B"H

Wednesday, Shevat 3, 5782 / January 5, 2022

This week’s Parsha is Bo. After two weeks of Torah readings about the enslavement of the Jewish people in Egypt, we will read this Shabbat about the last two plagues which G-d brought upon the Egyptians and the long awaited Exodus from Egypt. 

Living in Egypt for 210 years and being enslaved for 116 of them, the Jewish people were finally not only allowed to go free, but were literally chased out of Egypt, when the plague of the killing of the first-born hit the Egyptians at midnight. Pharaoh ran looking for Moshe and Aaron and urged them to leave as fast as possible.

As mentioned many times, the stories in the Torah are not merely historical events, they are lessons and instructions for all generations.

This is especially true with the story of the Exodus.  It is so important that it is recalled every day after the morning prayers, in keeping with the Torah's instruction, "You shall remember the day you came out of the Land of Egypt all the days of your life."

What is freedom?An ancient story is told of a wealthy man who, in addition to many fields and orchards, had many servants and slaves.  He was mean, cruel and had a violent temper.  If a slave didn't fulfill his wishes to the fullest, he would be beaten mercilessly. 

Once, when he was beating one of his slaves, a wise man happened to walk by.  He stopped and said, "It is neither proper nor ethical for one slave to be hitting another slave!"

"What do you mean one slave hitting another?" declared the rich man angrily. "I am the owner and he is my slave!"

"You are mistaken!” said the wise man. “In my opinion, you are more slave than he is! He, unfortunately, has no choice that he is a slave, but you, who cannot control your anger, are indeed enslaved to your evil temper and temptations. Your anger is your master and ruler and you are enslaved to it!"

Our sages say, "True freedom is achieved only through the study of Torah." Without knowing the difference between right and wrong,  good and bad, one cannot be considered a free person, in the true sense of freedom.  If one doesn’t pursue doing goodness and kindness and is only interested in their own welfare, they are really enslaved and not free.

Remembering the Exodus daily reminds us that G-d gives us the ability to be liberated from our own constraints and selfish tendencies. We achieve this liberation through knowing our purpose and mission in life, so that we will desire to perform good deeds and rise to real spiritual heights.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY