We
always struggle between two extremes: to put in all the effort or to let G-d do
all the work. Where is the point of balance, where do we stop and really say: “now
Hashem you clearly see I did enough”? The answer is from our Parasha where
Moshe is commanded by Hashem to instruct all the Jews who are left from the
lethal plagues to see who is really with Hashem and who is not.
The
Pasuk in our parasha, Parashat Bo, explains that Hashem “will smite the
Egyptians, and He will see the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts and
the Lord will pass over the entrance, and He will not permit the destroyer to
enter your houses…” (Shemot 12:23). We see from here that there is a certain
extent of hishtadlut (performance and effort) that Am Yisrael had to do
in order to be saved from the death that was going to befall the Egyptian
new-borns. If a Jew was not going to follow these detailed instructions, they
will not live through the night!
What
a severe and strict decree from G-d! How cruel and evil! The fact is this is
the ultimate gift Hashem gives us: a sign that we are Jewish, a sign to
everyone in the world to show we are not like other people. We believe in
Hashem, we believe in G-d who will save us from all our problems and will
continue to give us the good He gives us! What is that sign? In Egypt it was
the blood on the three places around the door to their homes, today it’s a kippa,
tzitzit, a long skirt, long sleeves in the summer, wearing tefillin, placing a
mezuzah on our doors. However, the question arises: all these signs are
external, if Hashem is above and beyond everything and everyone He acts like a
camera and recording device and can see our emotions and measure our hearts and
tell if we are really with Him or without. So why go through all the trouble of
making these silly signs, He can simply just measure me with His spiritual
devices?!
This
is the exact problem we have. In order for us to make ourselves aware of Hashem’s
presence and control in the world we MUST show FOR OURSELVES these signs. To
constantly remind ourselves that we are Jewish, we are not like non-Jews. We
have our own traditions. We have the Shabbat, we have the Torah reading four
times a week. We have Kosher food and strict slaughtering laws, we have Pat
Yisrael and a Jew must watch the cows’ milking, etc. We are different and we
are PROUD of our difference.
Be’ezrat
Hashm we will realize that these key signs of showing the world and ourselves
Hashem’s rule over us IS A GIFT. If we are asked to be part of the greatest
army in the world I don’t think we will reject the offer. How much more so
being under Hashem’s kingship?! The ultimate acceptance of this offer is by
keeping Shabbat!
SHABBAT SHALOM!
Judaism=Think.
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