Page 4 - HaMizrachi #8 Pesach

Mizrachi Educators

Rabbi Reuven Taragin Rabbanit Shani Taragin

CONTEMPORARY GEULA

A CHANGE OF PACE

Where it All Began The final Redemption happens slowly Rav Kook explains that the slow pace of
or, as the Yerushalmi (Yoma 14a) the final Redemption is not just because
he Prophets Micha (7:15) and outlines, like the sunrise – little by
Yishayahu (Isaiah 11:11- 16) it need not be quick, but because it
T both describe the final Geula little with continually increasing light. must be deliberately slow to accomplish
(redemption) as a continuation of Yetziat Following this line of thought, Rashi two important goals. Firstly, our exile
1
Mitzrayim, the Exodus from Egypt. In explains that Zechariah’s mention of a was meant to impact the world we were
fact the Maharal, in the introduction day that is “neither day nor night” refers exiled to. In Orot HaTeshuva (17:1), he
to Netzach Yisrael, interprets Yetziat to the twilight stages between exile and explains that our redemption is meant
Mitzrayim as a necessary paradigm redemption that “are not yet the full light to carry the world’s redemption along
without which the final Geula would be of the next world but also no longer the with it, hence we need to move slowly
impossible. dark of night because we are free of the to ensure that the rest of civilization is
pain of subjugation to foreign powers.”
Building off Torah verses that describe (Zechariah 14:7). 4 keeping pace with us. Secondly, in order
Yetziat Mitzrayim in the present tense to reach the final redemptive high point,
(Exodus 14:8 and Numbers 23:22), Rav Rashi’s words seem to describe today’s we need to sharpen our unique identity,
Kook explains that “the redemption is an reality. On the one hand, thankfully, partly by distinguishing between the
ongoing process. The redemption from we have the opportunity to live good we take with us as opposed to what
Egypt and the future final redemption independently in Eretz Yisrael. On the we leave behind.
are one continuum.” 2 other, we still face challenges, both
physical and spiritual. May our reflection on the goals of a slow
This approach explains why, in addition redemption help us realize them and
to Yetziat Mitzrayim, the Haggadah There are many who are disillusioned by facilitate the completion of the Geula
also mentions geulot throughout the the fact that our return to Eretz Yisrael is process!
generations (ה ָ ד ְ מ ָ ע ֶ ׁש אי ִ ה ְ ו) and includes not yet what it is fully meant to be. They
ָ
prayers for the final Geula: רי ִ ׁש ך ְ ל ה ֶ ד ֹונ ְ ו would be wise to remember that sources
ה ָנ ָ ׁש ְ ל ,ּונ ֵ ׁש ְ פ ַנ תּוד ְּ פ ל ַ ע ְ ו ּונ ֵ ת ָּ ל ֻ א ְּג ל ַ ע ׁש ָ ד ָ ח dating back to the Nevi’im Yeshayahu
ל ֵ א ָ ר ְ ׂשִי ְ ּ ד א ָ ע ְ ר ַ א ְּ ב ה ָ א ָּ ב ַ ה and of course. and Zechariah had already predicted this 1 Understandably these pesukim are read as the
םִי ַ ל ָ ׁשּורי ִּ ב ה ָ א ָּ ב ַ ה ה ָנ ָ ׁש ְ ל slow and gradual progression. Haftarah portion on the last day of Pesach (and
on Yom HaAtzmaut). Similarly, the Haftarot
Change of Pace Why We Take It Slow on Shabbat HaGadol and on the seventh day of
Pesach also relate to Geula.
Despite the relationship between future Nevertheless, living in a generation 2
and past geulot, Isaiah (52:12) singles experiencing this slow progression, we Yisrael UTechiyato, 28.
out one major difference – the eventual wonder why the final Redemption needs 3 See Berachot 9a, which discusses two aspects
redemption will unfold slowly, as to proceed so slowly. Why are we not of this haste, that of the Jews and that of the
opposed to ן ֹוז ָּ פ ִ ח ְּ ב (in haste). blessed with a speedy redemption like Egyptians..
the one from Mitzrayim? 4 This pasuk inspired םֹוי ב ֵ ר ָ ק, the song many recite
The Torah emphasizes that the Exodus at the end of the Seder.
3
from Egypt was ן ֹוז ָּ פ ִ ח ְּ ב. It is why the Many commentaries suggest that in 5 For example, Tzidkat HaTzadik 1, Tanya 31, and
Korban Pesach had to be eaten quickly order for the Jewish people to initially Torat Menachem, Rosh Chodesh Nissan 5746.
and why we eat matzah on Pesach instead forge their own identity, the first
of chametz. In fact, the Avudraham redemption needed to be a quick and Rabbi Reuven Taragin is Educational
(Seder HaHaggadah) even explains that clean break from the Egyptian culture Director of World Mizrachi and
the Jews were commanded to eat matzah into which they had assimilated. 5 Religious Zionists of America–Mizrachi.
even before they left Mitzrayim so that Building off a Jewish identity established He is also Dean of the Yeshivat HaKotel
they would pay attention to how quickly over millennia, the final Geula need not Overseas Program
they were leaving. be as quick. ravtaragin@mizrachi.org

4