The loud chortling sound you may have heard last week was the collective mirth of countless Talmud-conversant Jews as they read about a lawsuit being prepared by a group of Egyptian expatriates in Switzerland.
The news came in the form of an interview, published in the Egyptian weekly Al-Ahram Al-Arabi, with Dr. Nabil Hilmi, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Al-Zaqaziq. The article was translated and made available by the invaluable Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).
Dr. Hilmi's lawsuit is ostensibly being filed against "all the Jews of the world" for recovery of property allegedly stolen during the exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt approximately 3300 years ago.
Citing the Torah, Dr. Hilmi is demanding, presumably on Egypt's behalf, the return of "gold, jewelry, cooking utensils, silver ornaments, clothing and more," not to mention interest thereon, taken by the ancestors of today's Jews "in the middle of the night" -- a "clear theft of a host country's resources and treasure, something that fits the morals and character of the Jews."
According to Dr. Hilmi's mathematical computations, which include an annual doubling in value of the material in question, 1,125 trillion tons of gold are owed by the Jews for each of the 300 tons he estimates was taken. And that doesn't include interest, which he claims, without explanation, should be calculated for 5758 years.
The merriment that greeted the report was born of the fact that the Talmud tells of precisely such a claim lodged over 2000 years ago in a world court of sorts presided over by none other than Alexander the Great.
The story is recounted in Sanhedrin 91a, where it is recorded that one Geviha ben Pesisa responded on the Jews' behalf. A paraphrase of the excerpt follows:
"What is your source?" Geviha asked the Egyptian representatives.
"The Torah," they replied.
"I too will invoke the Torah, which says that the Jews spent 430 years laboring in Egypt. Please compensate us for 600,000 men's work for that period of time."
"Very well," said Geviha, "I too will invoke the Torah, which says that the Jews spent 430 years laboring in Egypt. Please compensate us for 600,000 men's work for that period of time."
The Egyptians, the Talmud continues, then asked Alexander for three days during which to formulate a response. The recess was granted but the representatives, finding no counter-argument, never returned.
One supposes that Dr. Hilmi was unfamiliar with that page of Talmud, and perhaps with the underlying Biblical narrative on which it is based.
His gift to us, though, is more than a good laugh. For by sending us to Sanhedrin 91a, he provides us great consolation and hope in these trying times. For the very next account on that page concerns yet another historic lawsuit -- ancient and yet as timely as tomorrow's headlines.
This suit was filed by "the children of Ishmael and Keturah [Abraham's second wife, identified by the Midrash as Hagar]." Ishmael, of course, is claimed by many Arabs as their ancestor.
The plaintiffs in this suit claimed that Canaan, or the Land of Israel, was really theirs, as the Torah identifies their antecedents, no less than Isaac, to be progeny of Abraham.
Once again, Geviha responded on behalf of the Jews. "Your source?" he asked.
"The Torah," they responded.
"If so," he continued, "I too will invoke the Torah, which says that Abraham gave 'all that was his to Isaac; and to the children of his concubines [other wives], he gave [only] gifts, and he sent them away from Isaac his son... eastward'" [Genesis, 25:5,6].
Intriguingly, the Talmud mentions no Ishmaelite or Keturite reaction in Alexander's court -- not even a request for time to formulate a response. It's almost as if those plaintiffs simply refused to acknowledge the unarguable case that had been presented, as if they were utterly unable to countenance the idea that the Holy Land was in fact bequeathed in its entirety by Abraham to Isaac, who in turn bequeathed it to Jacob; and he, to his children after him, the Jewish people.
According to the Jewish religious tradition, though, the entire world, including Ishmael's descendants, will one day come not only to countenance the idea but to fully embrace it. That day has not yet arrived, to be sure, and it will not be military or political actions in the end that will bring it, but rather our merits as a people.
It will arrive, though. As the prophet Jeremiah tells our Rachel, one of the mothers of the Jewish people: "Restrain your voice from crying and tears from your eyes... for there is hope for you in the end ... the children will return to their borders."
(16) Jeff Schwartz, April 10, 2006 12:00 AM
Additional refutations of the Egyptian claim
Exodus 11:2 states "'veyishalu' each man from his friend and each woman from her friend, silver vessels and golden vessels."
The word Hebrew word “veyishalu” can mean either "and let them ask for" or "and let them borrow." Because of this ambiguity it is not clear from the verse whether the Israelites borrowed the utensils or simply asked for them as gifts (perhaps as a small token of compensation for their enslavement).
Moreover, nowhere do the verses specify that the request was made by the Jews of the Egyptians. In fact, the simple reading of the verse suggests that the Jews borrowed or asked for utensils from each other as the word Egyptian appears nowhere in the verse. Although, the next verse hints that the request was made of the Egyptians, this is by no means explicit.
(15) Michael Sweeney, September 8, 2003 12:00 AM
Maybe you should make a counterclaim
Since the Egyptians seem intent on securing a judgement, maybe it's time to make a counterclaim for the unpaid labor of 600,000 men for the period of 430 years. Make sure you also include interest and penalties.
Let's see 600,000 men x 60 hours (work week in Egypt at the time) x 52 weeks x 430 years x $30.00/hr. (prevailling wage for construction trades) x 1.18 (to the 3200th power for the accummulated interest).
I think the Egyptians had better get ready to pay a lot of cash! Israel could use the money.
Shalom
(14) Yoka Bazilewich, September 3, 2003 12:00 AM
It makes me smile
What a great piece this is and I can't help but smile. As a Jew it is a delightful and funny piece to read. Proud to be Jewish.
Thanks you Rabbi.
Kol Tov to you.
B'shalom
Yoka
(13) Claude Hasson, September 3, 2003 12:00 AM
What about the jews that in the 1950s (our era!) were expelled from Egypt by order of President Nasser, and had to live all their belongings? Will those Egyptians Jews ask for their "money back" ?
(12) Frank Selch, September 2, 2003 12:00 AM
Ridiculous claim
This utterly absurd claim should be relayed to Yasir Arafat and all those in the Islamic world who claim that the Exodus is an invention of the Jews. Surely the Arabs can't have it both ways.
Am Israel Chai.
(11) Zachary Kessin, September 2, 2003 12:00 AM
One more thing he may have not noticed
This was pointed out in an article in the Jerusalem post, so I can't claim its a thought original to me but...
For the last 50+ years the arabs have said that the Jews of today are somehow not the same as the Jews of bible days, and therefore do not have title to the land of israel. In filing this lawsuit he has stated that we are infact one in the same.
(10) Jeff Dunetz, September 2, 2003 12:00 AM
So if they believe the Torah, they must also believe that Temple Mount was the site of the 2 temples/
(9) Ken Harrow, September 2, 2003 12:00 AM
gifts
I thought that the Egyptians gave gifts to the Jews because the Lord made the egyptians favourably disposed towards them
(8) David C Buxbaum, September 2, 2003 12:00 AM
Good story, but too kind to the the Egyptians
What about a real lawsuit by the Jews of Iran and all the Arab lands requiring compenation for their property stolen when they were expelled from the Arab lands in 1967, befoe and after?
(7) millie davis, September 1, 2003 12:00 AM
I am not Jewish, but I profoundly enjoy this site. This has been the best of all
(6) Anonymous, September 1, 2003 12:00 AM
Extremely interesting article!
As a Bible student and also a life-long friend of the Jews, I found the irony and humor of this article deeply interesting. Trying to use the Talmud as the basis for filing lawsuits against the Jews who know that their cause is vindicated by the same Talmud must be the ultimate chutzpah! No wonder the Jews are laughing!
(5) Shaul, September 1, 2003 12:00 AM
The Talmud is a wonderful source of common sense
It's incredible how any jew can learn from the Talmud, religious or secular, Talmud study is a reward to one's intelect.
(4) C Landrum, August 31, 2003 12:00 AM
lawsuits
Dearest Rabbi, Interesting article, thank you. I'm thinking perhaps the Vatican can also be sued to return priceless objects to Israel that were stolen, and are still today, emblazoned on the Arch of Titus. Possible? :)
Hashem's blessings on the Jewish people.
(3) Anonymous, August 31, 2003 12:00 AM
Perfect column
As a Jewish person not familiar with the Talmud, I took great joy in reading Rabbi Shafran article.
(2) Simon Grynberg, August 31, 2003 12:00 AM
Class Action Lawsuit?
I'm thinking that we should sue for the slave-labor performed during our time there.
(1) Rhonda Putman, August 31, 2003 12:00 AM
I, too, laughed!
When I read of the lawsuit, I, too, laughed at the propensity of it... and it is good to see the correct response and previous history of this same lawsuit... I wonder if Dr. Hilmi has ever heard of "double jeopardy" or "dismissed without prejudice"?