|
ב"ה
בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר חַיָּב אָדָם לִרְאוֹת אֶת עַצְמוֹ כְּאִלּוּ הוּא יָצָא מִמִּצְרָיִם (הגדה של פסח)
In every generation, a person is obligated to regard himself as if he had come out of Egypt. (The Haggadah)
The Holiday of Faith
One of the most remarkable aspects of Bnei Yisrael's exodus from Egypt is the simple trust they had in Moshe and in the divine promise that he relayed.
Bnei Yisrael were living in Egypt—a naturally prosperous land, home to a thriving civilization. Yet at Moshe's word, millions of men, women and children abandoned their homes of 200 years, and followed Moshe on a long and uncharted journey into the wilderness, with no obvious means of survival. They left behind a land of stability, and headed into a barren desert with no provisions other than their matzah and their faith.
The trust that our ancestors had in G-d, and their willingness to follow His directives (which were conveyed through Moshe), serve as an example for Jewish people in all times and circumstances. In this world of endless competition and struggle, some might argue that the key to survival is to readily adapt to your surroundings, to follow the local trends and to subscribe to the fashions and passions of the time. It is unthinkable, they say, to commit instead to an ancient set of 613 rules that dictate every aspect of human life!
We therefore recount our ancestors' faith when they journeyed from Egypt, and how it brought them not only spiritual goodness but material prosperity as well. We recall that their trust in G-d led them not only to receive the Torah and become G-d's chosen people, but also to inherit "the land flowing with milk and honey"—the Holy Land of Israel. By regularly remembering and retelling the story of the Exodus, we reinforce our commitment to live by G-d's directives, as outlined in the Torah, with absolute certainty that this, and only this, will guarantee true happiness and success.
—Igros Kodesh, vol. 20, pp. 204-207
| |
No comments:
Post a Comment