Take this one, from Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Ecclesiastes. It's a powerful allegory, and one we can all relate to.
The story begins: "There was a small city." In this case, the "small city" isn't a place you'd find on a map. It represents Egypt. "And few men in it" – these are the Israelites. The descendants of Jacob, a tiny group amidst the vastness of Egyptian civilization. The Torah tells us, "With seventy people your ancestors descended to Egypt…" (Deuteronomy 10:22). Just seventy souls.
Then comes the threat: "And a great king came against it." Pharaoh. Powerful, merciless, and determined to crush the Israelite people. "And surrounded it and built a great siege upon it." This wasn't just about physical force. Pharaoh launched a cultural assault, issuing edict after edict, each one harsher than the last. He forbade them from having children, he tried to erase the mark of their covenant by forcing them to conceal their circumcisions, and he even made them wear their hair in the Egyptian style – a forelock – all in an attempt to force assimilation. He wanted to erase their very identity.
Desperate. But here's where the hope appears. "He found in it a poor, wise man." Ah, Moses. But why "poor"? Perhaps it refers to his humble beginnings, or maybe his initial reluctance to accept God's mission. But wise? Absolutely. As it says, "Moses said: So said the Lord: About midnight…" (Exodus 11:4).
Now, this little phrase, "about midnight," is actually incredibly insightful. The story goes that God had told Moses the plague of the firstborn would strike at midnight. But Moses, in his wisdom, said "about midnight." Why? The Midrash HaMevoar, drawing on a discussion in Berakhot 4a, explains that Moses worried the Egyptians might miscalculate the exact moment. If the plague happened even a little off, they might dismiss it as a coincidence or doubt God's power. Moses' careful wording removed any room for doubt.
And what did Moses do with his wisdom? "And he saved the city in his wisdom." How? "They shall take of the blood…" (Exodus 12:7). By instructing the Israelites to mark their doorposts with the blood of the Paschal lamb, Moses provided a way for them to be spared from the final, devastating plague. He gave them the power to protect themselves.
But the story doesn’t end there. Here’s the really poignant part: "But no one remembered that poor man." After all the miracles, after the Exodus, the Israelites complained about Moses in the wilderness. They forgot the one who had saved them from slavery. It's a harsh truth about human nature, isn't it? We're often quick to forget the sacrifices of those who help us.
But the Kohelet Rabbah offers a powerful reassurance. "The Holy One blessed be He said: You did not remember him; I remember him." And the verse it quotes is beautiful: "He remembered the days of old, Moses, His people" (Isaiah 63:11). God remembers. Even when we forget, even when we fail to appreciate the ones who guide us, God remembers their deeds.
So, what does this mean for us? This ancient story reminds us to appreciate the wisdom and courage of those who stand up against seemingly insurmountable odds. And it reminds us that even when we are forgotten by others, our actions can still resonate in the eyes of something greater than ourselves. Maybe, just maybe, that's a city worth saving.