Parashah BO
Shemot 10:1-13:16;
"Remember this day as the time you went out of Egypt." (Ex. 13:3)
There are those who ask why we consider the Exodus from Egypt to be of such central importance since after the Exodus the Jews were again enslaved under various nations and suffered at the hands of many dictators. The uniqueness of this first Exodus was that it fundamentally changed the character of the Jewish People to their very core. After being freed from slavery in Egypt, we became free people within our souls, even if later we were to again be under the yoke of the gentiles. The Exodus from Egypt terminated the possibility of a Jew being a real slave, because his essence is that of a free person.
(The Maharal of Prague - from L'Chaim #805)
"With a mighty hand G-d brought us forth out of Egypt." (13:14)
G-d's "mighty hand" was directed not only toward Pharaoh and the Egyptians but toward the Children of Israel, as some Jews preferred to remain in slavery and were redeemed by G-d against their will. Likewise, G-d will redeem us from our present exile with a "mighty hand," taking with Him even those Jews who might prefer to remain in exile.
(Lubavitcher Rebbe)
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