By Sholom Olensky
This week in the Torah:
The Book of Exodus begins by listing the names of Jacob and his sons who entered Egypt. With them, came their families, etc., and eventually Pharaoh enslaved the Israelites.
Midrash:
The names of the Israelites are listed here in order to make reference to their Redemption, (as each name reflects an element of Redemption…).
Question:
How is it that at the time that the Jews are entering, descending, into Egypt, into what is to become a harsh exile, their element of Redemption is identified?? Is this not out of place?
Explanation:
This is indeed what the Midrash is addressing. Since the entire purpose of their descent into enslaved exile, etc., is purely so that they can be refined into a nation worthy of being G-d’s Chosen People and receiving His Torah, etc., it is to be understood that the whole Exile is really, in essence, the Exodus, the Redemption.
The Passover Haggadah:
“Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah said, ‘I am likened to a seventy-year-old. Still, I was never able to explain why we mention the Exodus in the evening Shema, until “ben Zoma” derived it from Scripture….’ The Sages say, ‘[The very same verse of Scripture, actually teaches us that] we are to mention the Exodus even during the Days of Moshiach.’ ”
Questions:
What is the significance of recounting the wish to find a source for mentioning Exodus at night? And why the mention of the seventy-year-old-likeness? Also, why indeed mention the Egyptian Exodus during Moshiach’s times; will the Egyptian Exodus not be outshined by Moshiach’s coming?
Explanation:
As explained above, the true essence of Exile is the ensuing Redemption. This is the inner meaning of mentioning the Exodus at “night”; to reveal the true essence of the Exile (“night”) i.e., Redemption. And, while past Redemptions have allowed recurrences of Exile, the Sages add that the Exile will actually culminate in, and its true essence is, the Redemption brought about by Moshiach, which will be eternal.
Additionally:
The reference to the sagacity of Rabbi Elazar, is due to him being installed that day as the Head of the Torah Academy. The significance of this, to what has been explained above, is: a) This is the subject matter in which a true leader must be involved (indicated by his exposition on the day of his installment as leader), and b) It is such a leader that empowers us to realize the Redemption in our lives.
Lesson:
After all the work of the preceding generations, we are currently empowered to see Redemption today. Practically speaking, this is achieved through preparing for the Redemption by studying Torah (in general, and more specifically, on the subject of Redemption).
(Based on Sefer HaSichos—5752, Shemos)
