This week is
Shabbat Hagadol
- Erev Pesach
Candelighting 4/18/08 - 7:20 PM (DST New York City)
Redemption
of the Past
Rabbi Chaim
Lobel - Young Israel of Aberdeen
(Exodus;
Chapter 6, Verse 6-7) “Therefore, say to the Children of Israel,
'I am G-d, and I shall take you from under the burdens of Egypt,
I shall rescue you from their service, I shall redeem you with
an outstretched hand and with great Judgments. I shall take you
to Me for a nation and I shall be a G-d to you.”
G-d is
promising the Jewish nation salvation from Egypt. According to
the Sforno (6:6), a commentary on the Torah, the actual
redemption did not happen until the splitting of the Sea of
Reeds. The Torah testifies, “On that day, Hashem saved Israel
from the hand of Egypt, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the
seashore (Exodus 14-30).” The Sforno explains that, only after
witnessing their slave masters dead, did the Jewish people feel
redeemed and free from the Egyptian bondage. Till that point,
they felt like runaway slaves.
It was not
enough for G-d to create the miracles of the ten plagues and the
splitting of the sea for Israel to feel as an independent
people. G-d had to kill their masters, eradicate all of their
past, in order for the Jewish nation to not just be free, but to
feel free. The Jewish people needed a mentality change.
It is
extremely difficult for an individual to change his attributes
and way of thinking once he is accustomed and set in his ways.
Israel still thought of themselves as slaves even when they were
actually free. Like the Israelites, we all face an uphill battle
when trying to change and improve ourselves.
***
Rabbi Chaim Lobel is the
Rabbi of Young Israel of Aberdeen, Congregation Bet Tefilah,
Aberdeen, NJ.
http://www.yiaberdeen.com/index.html
