08 January, 2010

Parshas Shemos

Parshas Shemos begins with the naming of the twelve sons of Yaakov. Rashi explains: The counting of Klal Yisroel express Hashem’s love for us, just like he counts the stars everyday he counts Yisroel over and over.
The Sefer of Shemos speaks of the redemption and birth of Klal Yisroel (hence the translation- Exodus). The birth of the nation of Yisroel started with exile. Golus in Mitzraim is compared to a fetus in a womb, it is what made the birth of Klal Yisroel possible. Through the darkness of the exile, in the lowest state, as we were wallowing in our blood , וָאֶעֱבֹר עָלַיִךְ וָאֶרְאֵךְ מִתְבּוֹסֶסֶת בְּדָמָי Hashem gave us a new life- a life to be dedicated to Himוָאֹמַר לָךְ בְּדָמַיִךְ חֲיִי, וָאֹמַר לָךְ בְּדָמַיִךְ חֲיִי.. One of the highlights (at least for kids) Pesach/Seder night is the saying/singing of דַּיֵּינוּ–we thank Hashem for all the good he did for us as we left Egypt. The culmination of that experience is
וְהִכְנִיסָנוּ לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּבָנָה לָנוּ אֶת בֵּית הַבְּחִירָה לְכַפֵּר עַל כָּל עֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ. -that we entered Eretz Yisroel and built the Bais Hamikdosh. The purpose of 210 years of bitter exile, of all the miracles that were done to take us out, were all in order that we should strive to dwell in Hashem’s land and build a dwelling for Hashem.
The Brisker Rav (parshas Vayichi) says that Eretz Yisroel was given to the twelve shevatim. It is only through the twelve tribes that we were able to settle the land of Yisroel. The Kedushas Levi explains - All twelve names of the Shevatim are references and suggest hashgacha pratis. Eretz Yisroel is the land where hashgacha is most profound. It is only throught the realization/zechus of the hashgacha demonstrated in the Shevatim that we were zoche to settle in Eretz Yisroel.
Every star is named by Hashem everyday - providing each and everyone its own special hashgacha. Golus Mitzraim is prefaced by the names of the twelve shevatim- comparing them to the stars. The goal of the exile is that we should learn and appreciate this special hashgacha Hashem offers Klal Yisroel- a nation of Shevatim, in a land of Hashgacha.

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