Regarding the Plague of Darkness the Torah says, "There was an opaque darkness in all Egypt, lasting for three days. People could not see each other, and no one left his place for three days. The Israelites, however, had light in the areas where they lived." (Exodus 10:22-23)
Rashi comments: "There was opaque darkness in which for three days no man saw another, and there was another three days' darkness twice as thick in which no man rose from his place. One who happened to be sitting when this second period began was unable to rise, and one who was then standing was unable to sit down."
There were two levels of darkness. In the first level, people could not see one another, but they could still move around, stand up and sit down. Yet, there was a second level still more severe in which not only could they not see one another, but they were paralyzed. They couldn't budge from their places. A seated person could not stand and a standing person could not sit.
The darkness of Egypt teaches us about two levels of G-d concealing His countenance from us ? one relating to the nation and the other to the individual. If someone does not see or notice those around him, if he does not feel the pain and suffering of his wife and children, or of his brothers and neighbors, that is a sign that he is enveloped in psychological darkness. The same holds on the larger scale. If a person does not share in the suffering of his community and his nation, that signifies that he is not sufficiently attached to them, and his soul is enveloped in darkness.
Yet, there is a level that is still lower and still more severe ? when a person is sunken in depression and despair, and cannot rise up from his situation by his own efforts. That person is physically and psychologically paralyzed. Here you already have twofold divine concealment. Not only does such a person not notice those around him, but he has no faith in his ability to change his own situation. Such was the Egyptians' plight during the Plague of Darkness.
Yet "the Israelites had light where they lived." They could see one another, they were attached to one another, they felt one another's pain and rejoiced over their happiness. They were neither depressed nor in despair. Quite the contrary, they were full of faith and trust.
Today, George Bush and the leaders of other nations are darkening the skies of our precious country by means of their "Road Map". Their purpose is to dwarf and to weaken the State of Israel by establishing an Arab state in the very heart of our beloved, holy land. Yet, how fortunate we are that despite all of their plotting, and despite Ariel Sharon's planned "disengagement" from our land, there are people of faith who are brightening the skies of our nation, attaching themselves to our land with marvelous self-sacrifice. With great love, they are investing spirit, faith and hope in the Jewish People, who are now being gathered in to Zion.
I have this to say to the people of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, and to all those who exhibit love and faith for our people, land and Torah: You are bringing merit to the Jewish People, even those who are sunken in darkness and gloom, and do not feel the pain of our beloved country, our homeland.
The Land of Israel is the loving mother who has kept faith with us for thousands of years, even when we were in the exile. Now, she is looking forward to the return of her children, although to our great chagrin, her children are rebelling against her. Some would even sell her to a foreign people ? it will never be.
You who are faithful to the people, land and Torah are the light at the end of the time-tunnel of our generation. Through you shall be fulfilled, "The Israelites had light where they lived."
Rashi comments: "There was opaque darkness in which for three days no man saw another, and there was another three days' darkness twice as thick in which no man rose from his place. One who happened to be sitting when this second period began was unable to rise, and one who was then standing was unable to sit down."
There were two levels of darkness. In the first level, people could not see one another, but they could still move around, stand up and sit down. Yet, there was a second level still more severe in which not only could they not see one another, but they were paralyzed. They couldn't budge from their places. A seated person could not stand and a standing person could not sit.
The darkness of Egypt teaches us about two levels of G-d concealing His countenance from us ? one relating to the nation and the other to the individual. If someone does not see or notice those around him, if he does not feel the pain and suffering of his wife and children, or of his brothers and neighbors, that is a sign that he is enveloped in psychological darkness. The same holds on the larger scale. If a person does not share in the suffering of his community and his nation, that signifies that he is not sufficiently attached to them, and his soul is enveloped in darkness.
Yet, there is a level that is still lower and still more severe ? when a person is sunken in depression and despair, and cannot rise up from his situation by his own efforts. That person is physically and psychologically paralyzed. Here you already have twofold divine concealment. Not only does such a person not notice those around him, but he has no faith in his ability to change his own situation. Such was the Egyptians' plight during the Plague of Darkness.
Yet "the Israelites had light where they lived." They could see one another, they were attached to one another, they felt one another's pain and rejoiced over their happiness. They were neither depressed nor in despair. Quite the contrary, they were full of faith and trust.
Today, George Bush and the leaders of other nations are darkening the skies of our precious country by means of their "Road Map". Their purpose is to dwarf and to weaken the State of Israel by establishing an Arab state in the very heart of our beloved, holy land. Yet, how fortunate we are that despite all of their plotting, and despite Ariel Sharon's planned "disengagement" from our land, there are people of faith who are brightening the skies of our nation, attaching themselves to our land with marvelous self-sacrifice. With great love, they are investing spirit, faith and hope in the Jewish People, who are now being gathered in to Zion.
I have this to say to the people of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, and to all those who exhibit love and faith for our people, land and Torah: You are bringing merit to the Jewish People, even those who are sunken in darkness and gloom, and do not feel the pain of our beloved country, our homeland.
The Land of Israel is the loving mother who has kept faith with us for thousands of years, even when we were in the exile. Now, she is looking forward to the return of her children, although to our great chagrin, her children are rebelling against her. Some would even sell her to a foreign people ? it will never be.
You who are faithful to the people, land and Torah are the light at the end of the time-tunnel of our generation. Through you shall be fulfilled, "The Israelites had light where they lived."