|
D'var
Torah
by Rabbi Jay Spero |
Proof
of Worthiness
Contact Rabbi Spero at 862-9546 or jsohr1@juno.com
This
week’s parsha marks the end of the Jewish presence in
Egypt
. The final three plagues
take place: locusts, darkness, and the death of the first born. After the plague
of darkness, before the final plague was yet to take place, Hashem spoke to
Moshe and Aron saying: “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel saying: On the
tenth day of this month shall they take for themselves, each man a lamb for a
family, a lamb for a household.” This was the commandment of the Pesach
(Passover) offering. This was a commandment which was fullfilled continously
from the time the Jews entered the
land
of
Israel
, until several years after
the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash. This comandment was fullfilled the night
of the seder along with the eating of the matza and the bitter herbs (during
their forty year sojurn in the desert, the Korban Pesach was not offered).
Besides
the actual sacrifice, this commandment entailed keeping the lamb for three days
prior to the offering, to ensure it did not have a blemish (which would
invalidate the animal as an offering; this commandment only applied that first
year). Meanwhile, Hashem was on the verge of releasing the plague of the
firstborn, and the Jews would subsequently be forced to leave in haste. Why did
Hashem give the Jewish people this commandment at such a seemingly inopportune
time?
While
the Jewish people were in
Egypt
, they had sunk to the low
level of worshipping false gods. On the other hand, to a certain degree they
still kept an aspect of kedusha —degree of separation. They retained their
mode of dress, their language, and their names. Although these are all external
factors, these outward manifestations bespoke an understanding that due to the
Jewish people’s eventual role as a light amongst the nations, a separation was
necessary. So although the Jewish people were not completely wicked, they were
on a very low spiritual level. Why did they deserve to be redeemed? The Jewish
people were essentially redeemed for two reasons: 1.Because
Hashem’s promise to their forefathers.
2. Because of their future potential. To prove they were worthy of this
“investment”, the Jewish people were required to show their commitment. Like
everything else in life, anything good requires hard work and commitment. The
commitment required of the Jewish people at this time was a serious one.
This
commandment of offering the Pesach sacrifice is a microcosm of all the mitzvos
in the Torah. Just as this mitzva might have seemed to come at an inopportune
time—yet in reality came exactly when it was needed—so do all the
commandments. This is an important idea: that our fullfilling of the comandments
fills a certain need, at that precise time. This is how by doing mitzvos the
Jewish people bring themselves closer to Hashem and ultimately to the final
redemption.
By
offering up this sacrifice, the Jews proved they were ready for the tremendous
undertaking—the receiving of the Torah—which awaited them.
|