Fellow lawyers and jurists,
The story of Pesach holds different and distinct relevance for each person in so many ways, changing year on year. Constantly, within liturgy and within our writings we remind ourselves of our deliverance from Egypt, practically as if it is in the present tense. In certain regards it is.
Certainly, the history of enslavement of the children of Israel did not happen overnight but was a progressive one which was strategized according to the Talmud, by Balaam, Pharaoh and Jethro, Amalek and Job. According to Talmud Bavli, Tractate Sotah 11a Jethro exempted himself but did not stop the enslavement from occurring.
Unfortunately, over the past few years, we are seeing a resurgence in anti-Semitism across the United States and there are while many distance themselves, very few stand up for the Jews. Of course, this reminds us of the age-old phrase “and there arose a new Pharaoh who knew not Joseph. The achievements of Jewish lawyers and judges for Americans at large are manifold, however memories are short.
Ibn Ezra poses the question “How is it that a large camp comprising six hundred thousand armed men were afraid of those who pursued them? Why did they not stand and fight for their own and their children’s lives?” He answers “The Egyptians were masters over Israel. The generation that left Egypt were trained from their youth to bear the yoke of the Egyptians. They were of humble spirit.”
This psyche of the Egyptian is ever present and requires us to fight and deliver and redeliver ourselves on a near daily basis. The work that is going on within the AAJLJ is of more vital importance today than it has ever been. This has been recognized across the membership, we are seeing increased involvement from all the committees, and I would like to thank all involved.
This year is shaping up to be very exciting. The Pursuit of Justice Awardees Eli Rosenbaum, Janis Schiff, and Akiva Shapiro are such impressive individuals that have, and are, giving so much to the community and to the law. I am looking forward to seeing you all on May 10th in Washington DC to celebrate and until then I wish you and your families a חג שמח.
Rob Garson
