By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. in El Cajon, California
When someone came to the Tzemach Tzedek, the third Lubavitcher Rebbe for a blessing, the Rebbe said, “Think positive and it will be positive.” This week our lesson in living optimally, comes from Shemot.
The story of the burning bush in this week’s parsha is more than a historical account of Moshe’s calling; it reflects the inner psychology of faith under very real pressure. A bush that burns without being consumed symbolizes human resilience, our capacity to endure fear and strain without losing our core identity. Adversity may ignite anxiety within us, but it need not define or destroy us.
Just as important is Moshe’s experience of Divine presence. He does not face his calling alone; Hashem serves as a source of reassurance and meaning, a spiritual anchor that transforms fear into purpose. Psychologically, this reflects how purpose is strengthened through relationship and trust.
Ultimately, the burning bush calls us to notice our own moments of challenge and growth, to recognize our inner strength, and to move forward with faith and courage, grounded in the belief that we are supported and guided. On this point in contemporary times, parsha Shemot offers a sobering and empowering framework for understanding and responding with faith and courage to today’s rise in antisemitism in the United States. It reminds us that antisemitism is not new, but it also teaches how we survive it without surrendering our soul. Shemot reminds us that the Jewish response to hatred has never depended on strength alone. It has depended on our thinking, on our conscience. On people who quietly refuse to normalize what is wrong.
We learn something difficult and enduring: assimilation does not protect. The Israelites were productive, integrated, and successful in Egypt. None of it prevented their becoming targets. Jewish survival has never come from disappearing, but from remaining rooted, holding fast to identity even when it becomes uncomfortable.
The Torah then tells us something profoundly compassionate: Hashem does not intervene immediately. First, the people cry out. Their pain is not rushed, corrected, or bypassed. Their suffering is heard. Only then does redemption begin. Shemot teaches that anguish is not a failure of faith. It is often its beginning.
And Moses, the one who will lead, does not step forward confidently. He resists the call. He doubts himself. He feels inadequate. Yet he is chosen not because he is fearless, but because he is awake to injustice and unable to ignore it. That is the enduring message of this parsha for our moment.
In times of rising antisemitism, the Torah does not ask us to be perfect, loud, or unafraid. It asks us to be clear. To protect dignity. To refuse distorted narratives. To stay human when others abandon humanity.
Shemot teaches that lasting self-improvement begins with awareness, courage, humility, and consistent small actions, even before life “gets better.” Here are some of the key actionable self-improvement tips that I see in the parsha:
1. Small Acts of Courage Matter — You don’t need to be loud or powerful to do what’s right. Practice standing up for your values in small, everyday choices, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Ask yourself: “What’s one small right thing I can do today, even if no one notices?”
The Israelites had lived peacefully in Egypt for generations. Tradition notes they spoke the language, dressed like Egyptians, and contributed to society, yet a “new king” arose who forgot Joseph.
Even deeply assimilated, patriotic American Jews are discovering that acceptance can be fragile. History teaches that antisemitism can re-emerge suddenly, even in enlightened societies. Safety comes from values and vigilance, from courage, not from invisibility.
2. Take Responsibility When You See Injustice — Don’t train yourself to look away. If something is wrong and you can help, then help.
This can be as simple as defending someone being teased or helping someone who’s struggling.
The heroes of Shemot are not kings but midwives, mothers, sisters, and a reluctant shepherd. Shifra and Puah defy Pharaoh. Yocheved hides a child. Miriam speaks up. Batya saves a Hebrew baby.
Moses’ turning point comes when “Vayigdal Moshe, Moses grew up” not just physically, but morally. He sees injustice and refuses to look away. Shemot teaches that survival alone is not enough; silence in the face of hatred erodes the soul. Speaking up carries risk but moral voice is non-negotiable. Change does not begin with institutions alone. It begins when ordinary people refuse to comply with injustice. Each voice matters. Each act of moral courage counts.
3. Growth Often Starts in Discomfort
Periods where life feels “off track” may be preparation, not failure.
Instead of asking “Why is this happening to me?” ask “What skills or character traits can I build from here?”
The turning point of Shemot is when the Israelites cry out and Hashem hears. Liberation begins when suffering is named, not hidden.
Antisemitism thrives when Jews feel isolated or afraid to speak. Tell the truth. Build coalitions. Refuse to suffer silently.
4. Humility Is a Strength, Not a Weakness –True humility means knowing your limits but still stepping up when needed.
Don’t disqualify yourself because you’re “not perfect.” Growth comes from trying anyway.
The Torah emphasizes that the Israelites continued to grow despite oppression. Spiritually and psychologically, this is critical: antisemitism seeks not only to harm us physically, but to shrink Jewish identity publicly, proudly, or morally. Shemot models resistance through continued vitality: building families, culture, faith, and community even when it feels risky, always with humility.
5. Listen for Your ‘Burning Bush’ Moments — Personal growth starts with paying attention to moments that spark curiosity, inspiration, or responsibility.
Reduce distractions. Reflect daily: “What caught my attention today and why?”
The next time you are given an obstacle, a challenge in life, which is always for your benefit, remember the Tzemach Tzedek’s wisdom and Moshe’s behavior. Hashem wants to help, and we need to do our hishtadlus, we need to put in our effort, by thinking and acting in rational, faithful, positive ways. “Think positive and it will be positive.”
Parasha Shemot teaches that antisemitism is a recurring human failure, but Jewish resilience is a recurring miracle. The message is not despair, but disciplined hope: We survive not by denying who we are, but by remembering it—clearly, courageously, and together.
*
Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D., prepares a weekly D’var Torah for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family are members. They are also active members of Congregation Adat Yeshurun.