During the seven days between the exodus and the splitting of the sea, the Jewish People underwent a 180-degree emotional reversal.
On the first day, they left Egypt full of self-confidence and faith. They didn't even take provisions along with them, as Rashi says (Exodus 12:39): "This is to Israel's credit. They did not say, 'How shall we go off to the desert without provisions?' Rather, they trusted in G-d and went." In this regard G-d says, "I remember the loyalty of your youth, your bridal love, your following Me in the desert in an unsown land." (Jeremiah 2:2)
On the second day, they marched along joyfully, for G-d, Himself, was showing them the way by means of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The exaltation of spirit must surely have been great when they saw G-d's glory leading them.
On the third day, they turned back towards Egypt in order to mislead the Egyptians. Indeed, Pharaoh, on seeing them returning, said, "They are lost in the area. They are trapped in the desert." (Exodus 14:3) Then, "G-d hardened Pharaoh's heart and he pursued the Israelites." (14:8)
When Israel saw the Egyptians, "they became very frightened. They cried out to G-d. They said to Moses, 'Weren't there enough graves in Egypt? Why did you have to bring us out here to die in the desert?'" (14:10-11)
They fell from a high roof to a deep pit, from a state of enormous faith, trust and joy, to a state of fear and despair, and all this within several days. Yet, this divine zigzag ultimately bore enormous salvation. With their own eyes, they saw the fulfillment of Moses' promise: "Don't be afraid. Stand firm and you will see what G-d will do to rescue you today.... G-d will fight for you, but you must remain silent." (14:13-14) Then, "on that day, G-d rescued the Israelites from Egypt. The Israelites saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore." (14:30)
Today, there are processes along the ascending path to complete salvation and redemption that look like regression, but truthfully, they are only a descent for the sake of ascent. Just as a person who wishes to make a long jump has to step back from the starting point in order to get a running start, so too, historic jumps forward seem to be preceded by crises and by our being further distanced from the goal. Yet, the leap forward ultimately comes.
The present crisis, entitled "Disengagement", will ultimately bring about a "reengagement".
This "disengagement" process involves us cutting ourselves off not just from our land, but from our values, our morality, our Jewish roots. It is a disengagement from the Jewish People. Yet, as stated, this disengagement, with G-d's help, will speedily bring about reengagement. In Hebrew, in fact, the words for "disconnection" [nituk] and "rectification" [tikun] are derived from the same letters [taf-kuf-nun].
The cure for disengagement is reengaging with the Jewish People and with all mankind; reengaging with Eretz Yisrael, with the whole length and breadth of our promised land; reengaging with our Jewish roots, with our holy Torah and with Jewish tradition. As was already promised to us in Moses' song by the Sea of Reeds, "With love, You will lead the people You redeem; with might, You will lead them to Your holy shrine." (Exodus 15:13)
And through our reengaging with the people, Torah and land, may we merit complete redemption speedily in our day, Amen.
[For more information regarding studies at the Machon Meir English Department, please visit http://www.machonmeir.org.il/english/new or email English1@machonmeir.org.il.]
On the first day, they left Egypt full of self-confidence and faith. They didn't even take provisions along with them, as Rashi says (Exodus 12:39): "This is to Israel's credit. They did not say, 'How shall we go off to the desert without provisions?' Rather, they trusted in G-d and went." In this regard G-d says, "I remember the loyalty of your youth, your bridal love, your following Me in the desert in an unsown land." (Jeremiah 2:2)
On the second day, they marched along joyfully, for G-d, Himself, was showing them the way by means of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The exaltation of spirit must surely have been great when they saw G-d's glory leading them.
On the third day, they turned back towards Egypt in order to mislead the Egyptians. Indeed, Pharaoh, on seeing them returning, said, "They are lost in the area. They are trapped in the desert." (Exodus 14:3) Then, "G-d hardened Pharaoh's heart and he pursued the Israelites." (14:8)
When Israel saw the Egyptians, "they became very frightened. They cried out to G-d. They said to Moses, 'Weren't there enough graves in Egypt? Why did you have to bring us out here to die in the desert?'" (14:10-11)
They fell from a high roof to a deep pit, from a state of enormous faith, trust and joy, to a state of fear and despair, and all this within several days. Yet, this divine zigzag ultimately bore enormous salvation. With their own eyes, they saw the fulfillment of Moses' promise: "Don't be afraid. Stand firm and you will see what G-d will do to rescue you today.... G-d will fight for you, but you must remain silent." (14:13-14) Then, "on that day, G-d rescued the Israelites from Egypt. The Israelites saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore." (14:30)
Today, there are processes along the ascending path to complete salvation and redemption that look like regression, but truthfully, they are only a descent for the sake of ascent. Just as a person who wishes to make a long jump has to step back from the starting point in order to get a running start, so too, historic jumps forward seem to be preceded by crises and by our being further distanced from the goal. Yet, the leap forward ultimately comes.
The present crisis, entitled "Disengagement", will ultimately bring about a "reengagement".
This "disengagement" process involves us cutting ourselves off not just from our land, but from our values, our morality, our Jewish roots. It is a disengagement from the Jewish People. Yet, as stated, this disengagement, with G-d's help, will speedily bring about reengagement. In Hebrew, in fact, the words for "disconnection" [nituk] and "rectification" [tikun] are derived from the same letters [taf-kuf-nun].
The cure for disengagement is reengaging with the Jewish People and with all mankind; reengaging with Eretz Yisrael, with the whole length and breadth of our promised land; reengaging with our Jewish roots, with our holy Torah and with Jewish tradition. As was already promised to us in Moses' song by the Sea of Reeds, "With love, You will lead the people You redeem; with might, You will lead them to Your holy shrine." (Exodus 15:13)
And through our reengaging with the people, Torah and land, may we merit complete redemption speedily in our day, Amen.
[For more information regarding studies at the Machon Meir English Department, please visit http://www.machonmeir.org.il/english/new or email English1@machonmeir.org.il.]