וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ ל֛וֹ לְבַדּ֖וֹ וְלָהֶ֣ם לְבַדָּ֑ם וְלַמִּצְרִ֞ים הָאֹכְלִ֤ים אִתּוֹ֙ לְבַדָּ֔ם כִּי֩ לֹ֨א יוּכְל֜וּן הַמִּצְרִ֗ים לֶאֱכֹ֤ל אֶת־הָֽעִבְרִים֙ לֶ֔חֶם כִּי־תוֹעֵבָ֥ה הִ֖וא לְמִצְרָֽיִם׃
At naghain sila para sa kanya nang hiwalay, at para sa kanila nang hiwalay, at para sa mga Egipciong kumakain na kasama niya nang hiwalay; sapagkat hindi makakain ng tinapay ang mga Egipcio na kasama ang mga Hebreo, sapagkat iyon ay kasuklam-suklam sa mga Egipcio.
Kol Dodi Dofek
The historical loneliness of the Jew percolates from a feeling of compulsive fate. He is as alone in his life on earth as in his death. The concept of kever yisrael emphasizes the Jew’s strange detachment from the world. Sociologists and psychologists may say what they wish about the inexplicable isolation of the Jew. Their explanations are nothing more than barren speculation, incapable of rationally describing the phenomenon. Jewish separateness belongs to the framework of the Covenant of Fate that was concluded in Egypt. In truth, Judaism and withdrawal from the world are synonymous. Even before the exile in Egypt, separateness descended upon our world with the appearance of the first Jew, our father Abraham. Abraham the Hebrew (ivri) lived apart. “The whole world was on one side (ever), and he on the other side” (Bereshit Rabbah 42:8). Balaam, when he gazed upon the Israelite camp, understood the wonder of the experience of Jewish separateness and proclaimed with amazement: “They are a nation dwelling alone and shall not be reckoned among the nations” (Numbers 23:9). Even if a Jew reaches the pinnacle of social and political accomplishment, he will not be able to free himself from the chains of isolation. Paradoxical fate watches over the isolation and uniqueness of the Jew, despite his apparent integration into his non-Jewish environment. Even people of power and authority, such as Joseph, the regent of Egypt, was separated from Egyptian society and remained alone in his tent. “And they served him [Joseph] by himself … and for the Egyptians … by themselves.” (Genesis 43:32). (Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, because it was a taboo for them). Before his death Joseph pleaded with his brothers, “When God will surely remember you and bring you out of this land, you shall carry up my bones from here” (Genesis 50:25). For despite my greatness and glory I am tied to you and your existence both in life and in death. This singular, inexplicable phenomenon of the individual clinging to the community and feeling alienated from the outside world was forged and formed in Egypt. There Israel was elevated to the status of a nation in the sense of a unity10 from which arises uniqueness as well .The awareness of the Fate Covenant in all of its manifestations is an integral part of our historical-metaphysical essence.