The Israelites endured 430 years of slavery in Egypt. Throughout this period, no single figure emerged to lead them towards freedom. God understood a crucial truth: a slave cannot lead a nation of slaves out of bondage because slavery is primarily a mentality.

How, then, can one create a free Israelite unburdened by the trauma and mindset of slavery?

A grave disaster struck the Israelites when Pharaoh decreed that all their baby boys be thrown into the Nile, fearing they might grow too powerful. When Jochebed gave birth to Moses, she hid him for three months until she could no longer conceal him. This seemingly catastrophic event turned into a blessing for their freedom. As baby Moses floated in a basket on the river, God's plans began to unfold.

Moses was found and raised by the royals, yet he retained a Jewish soul, free from the trauma and mentality of slavery—a combination deemed perfect by God.

One day, after Moses had grown, he witnessed an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. Overcome with rage, he killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand. The next day, when he saw two Hebrews fighting, he tried to intervene, only to be rebuffed. Fearing his actions were known, Moses fled to Midian when Pharaoh sought his life.

From royalty to refugee, Moses sacrificed everything, only to be betrayed by the very people he sought to protect, their mentality and trauma blinding them to his love and sacrifice.

Moses lived as a shepherd in Midian, tending his father-in-law’s flocks. One summer afternoon, he noticed a lamb missing and set off in pursuit. After an exhaustive chase, he found the lamb by a stream, drinking desperately. Patiently, Moses waited, then gently carried the lamb back to the flock.

At that moment, God spoke to Moses. “Just as the lamb was thirsty for water,” said the Lord, “My people Israel are thirsty for freedom. And Moses, just as you brought the lamb back with kindness and understanding, so will you lead my people to the Promised Land.”

Moses did not see divisions among his people. He was sent to unite and liberate all Israelites, regardless of their differences or how they treated him. He understood that each soul harbored a deep desire for freedom, despite their suffering.

This wisdom defines true leadership.

It took 1,878 years of persecution, pogroms, and massacres in the diaspora for the Jews to establish a state after the destruction of the Second Temple. For nearly two millennia, Zionism was merely a prayer, "Next year in Jerusalem," and an aspiration for one day return to the homeland. Herzl, in contrast, turned this dream into reality in about 50 years.

Both Moses and Herzl demonstrated leadership and strategic vision. What they achieved took unwavering commitment and an ability to see beyond immediate circumstances.

Throughout history, during Moses’ and Herzl’s revolutions, some Jews resisted change, preferring the familiarity of slavery or diaspora over the uncertainties of freedom. This resistance, often rooted in trauma and self-loathing, repeatedly obstructs salvation and protection.

God asked the Israelites through Moses to "Remember," emphasizing the power of narrative in preserving a nation. Today, the Jewish community has lost sight of its full narrative. We remember the Exodus but neglect the story of our return from diaspora persecution to a sovereign land.

Palestinians have successfully constructed and marketed a clear narrative, while the Jewish community has spent millions disputing perceptions rather than promoting its own story. Historical persecution and modern antisemitism have left Jews living day-to-day without a cohesive strategy or leadership.

The cycle of blame and division continues without a unifying leader to guide us through our differences. Many have left Egypt and the diaspora physically but remain enslaved mentally, choosing the familiarity of bondage over the uncertain path to freedom.

Ilan’s writing and research can be found on @mizrahbox on Instagram.