Though the Seder night focuses on Yetziat Mitzrayim, we also mention antisemitic episodes that preceded and followed the events in Egypt. The very first Jews experienced antisemitism. The people of Aram attacked Avraham for his religious beliefs, and Chevron’s landowners resisted selling him land. Yitzchak was also hated – because of his success. After their jealousy caused the Pelishtim to stuff Yitzchak’s wells, their king, Avimelech, expelled Yitzchak from Gerar: “Leave us, because you are stronger than we are.” Pharaoh used this same “strength” to convince the Egyptians to enslave and persecute the Jews. “And he said to his people: ‘The Jewish people are greater and stronger than we are. Let’s act wisely with them, lest they become many and join our enemies in the event of a war...”
Our continued success has caused us to be hated many times since then. Professor Thomas Sowell, the famed African-American academic and leading scholar of economics and the history of prejudice, was once asked what Jews could do to minimise the hatred and hostility towards them. The answer, said Sowell, is one word: “Fail.”
Those looking to find the source of antisemitism often miss the massively disproportionate representation of Jews in almost every index of human achievement. Instead of learning and benefitting from the great success of a contributing minority, many choose a path of envy and jealousy, which leads to hatred.
The Maharal explains that the Haggadah focuses on Lavan’s hatred as opposed to Eisav’s because Lavan had no reason to hate Yaakov. Eisav hated Yaakov because he had taken his bechorah and berachot. Lavan, though, had no excuse. Though Yaakov was his son-in-law, married to his daughters, and the father of his grandchildren, Lavan still hated him and sought to destroy him.
Yechezkel HaNavi explains that Hashem uses antisemitism to stem our assimilation. When Jews see themselves as part of broader society, Hashem causes that society to remind us that we do not belong. We are the nation that dwells alone because we have a special relationship with Hashem and a unique mission in His world.
Anne Frank responded similarly to Nazi oppression. “The persecution reminds us that we are not like the rest of the nations of the world — we have a higher purpose... We can never become just Netherlanders, or just English or representatives of any country for that matter. We will always remain Jews.”
Yirmiyahu HaNavi begins Megillat Eichah by wondering why the Jewish people are so isolated, and why no one consoles us when we suffer. He answers that Hashem keeps others from sympathising so that we are forced to return to Him. Knowing that only Hashem cares for us forces us to turn to Him.
B’chol Dor Va’dor. We summarise this historical process at a critical turning point on the Seder night. After the initial description of the servitude in and exodus from Mitzrayim (what the mishnah calls “Mat’chil b’genut u’mesayeim b’shevach”- beginning with criticism and ending with praise), we take a step back and speak about the hatred of Lavan that predated our arrival in Mitzrayim. Before doing so, we transition by singing “V’hi She’amdah” — and it is this that stood up for us - a piece that highlights the attempts by the nations of the world to destroy us in every generation.
Before and after describing these attempts, V’hi She’amdah credits Hashem with saving us from these consistent threats. As we have seen, Hashem causes our enemies to threaten us in order to distance ourselves from them, and He saves us to bring us closer to Him.
Our Seder This Year. After October 7th, this year’s Seder night and the recitation of V’hi She’amda should feel especially relevant. Like many generations of Jews, we, too, have been viciously targeted by a vile terrorist group and hated and demonised by its supporters around the world.
Let’s remember what the true cause of our suffering has always been and continues to be. May this realisation merit us Hashem’s salvation — ba’yamim ha’heim ba’zman ha’zeh - in those days and in our times.
