Imagine, just imagine that Bibi Netanyahu is given the Nobel Peace Prize. The world hates us—amazing—but now they decide to do Teshuvah (repentance), and they come and say, “You know what? You deserve the Nobel Peace Prize.” Imagine the UN ambassador of Israel getting a standing ovation from all the countries in the world during his speech. Just imagine. It’s imaginable, just impossible to conceive. However, in this week’s parasha, Moshe gets a standing ovation at the end of the plagues. It’s unbelievable. Let me read you the Pasuk (verse). It’s in Perek Yud Aleph, Pasuk Gimel (chapter eleven, verse three). Hashem gave the people of Israel graciousness in the eyes of the Egyptians. Gam ha’ish Moshe gadol me’od be’eretz Mitzrayim (Egypt). After he destroyed all of Egypt, the Pasuk tells us that Moshe, too, is extremely popular. He’s gadol me’od, a very important person, be’eretz Mitzrayim. Be’einei avdei Paro (Pharaoh), be’einei ha’am. In the eyes of the slaves of Paro, and in the eyes of the people of Mitzrayim. How is it possible? He just destroyed the entire land. It’s like you would say, “Netanyahu, he’s very popular in Gaza; everybody loves him.” He just destroyed half the place—what are you talking about? It’s the same thing here in Egypt; it makes no sense.
Something happened this week that is incredible. We’re all witnessing the release of hostages, drop by drop, three at a time. One of the hostages who was released this week is Agam Berger. There’s an incredible story about her. Apparently, Agam Berger is Shomer Shabbat (one who observes Shabbat) and Shomer Kashrut (one who keeps kosher). She won’t eat anything that is not kosher. Apparently, when she was in captivity with Hamas, they tried feeding her meat, and she refused. She would eat only kosher things, so I guess vegetables or fish, but she wouldn’t eat meat. They asked her to cook; they forced her to cook on Shabbat, and she refused to cook on Shabbat. Her captor threatened to kill her if she didn’t do Melachot (prohibited labors) on Shabbat. She looked him straight in the eyes and said, “Shoot, kill me. I will not do Melachot on Shabbat.” She just said that yesterday. Sure enough, he didn’t kill her, Baruch Hashem.
Where does this come from? I believe it comes from when she says to the guy, “Shoot.” When somebody tells the guy holding a gun, “Shoot,” then the guy cannot shoot. It’s reverse psychology. She was so sure and so strong about her belief that she almost didn’t fear the threat. She was so strong in her belief that she communicated that strength to the person in front of her. When you are strong in your self-esteem, in your positive pride, in what you believe in, that message transpires to the next person. It’s almost contagious; it goes into the next person.
It’s interesting that the chen, the graciousness that Bnei Yisrael (people of Israel) get, comes almost at the end. And one more time, the last one will come. It’s the last one. After this, you will be sent out. So Hashem tells Moshe and Bnei Yisrael, “This is the last one. After that, you’re going out.” “What? This is the last one? After that, we’re going out?” They got a strength, an inner strength, that communicated to the Egyptians: “We are strong. Hashem is with us. We’re not your slaves anymore.” There was a transition during nine plagues that didn’t communicate that message, but now it’s very, very strong. It’s so strong that right away, what do they do? You could already take things from the Egyptians; they’re not your owners anymore. The biggest proof that you’re not the slaves of the Egyptians is that you’re able to take back what they owe you for all these years of enslavement. So what happens? There’s a shift in Bnei Yisrael’s perception of themselves, which is now having an impact on the captors. And that’s what happens. When we believe in ourselves, when we are proud of being Jews, when we believe in the mitzvot (commandments), we create that strength that goes into the person in front of us. Don’t ever be shy of saying a Beracha (blessing). Don’t ever be shy of saying, “On Shabbat, I don’t do certain things.” Be proud of it. And if you’re proud of it, it will have an impact on the person in front of you. Shabbat Shalom.