Page 28 - HaMizrachi #28 Pesach USA 2021

THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND MIZRACHI IN THE NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Rabbi Yechiel Wasserman

Beginning with Disgrace

and Ending with Praise

he Exodus from Egypt will of yetziat Mitzrayim begins with slav- of the body, freedom from hard labor
always remain the spring- ery, with the adversity our forefathers and physical bondage. On the other,
“Ttime of the entire world.” suffered in Egypt. Only afterwards do when they received the Torah at Har
(Rav Kook, Meged Yerachim) we praise G-d, Who delivered us from Sinai, they were given freedom of the
slavery, brought us to Har Sinai and gave soul. Freedom to use their spiritual gifts
The Exodus from Egypt was a forma-
tive event, and not only for the Jewish us the Torah. Ostensibly, the explanation to grow as individuals and as a people.
people. It is a story that extends beyond is simple and logical – first, a description So on Seder Night, which freedom we
the Jewish world; a story which has had of the slavery and hardship, and then the should thank G-d for first? Physical or
an impact on other cultures and nations story of redemption and liberty. spiritual?
as well. However, in the Gemara two opinions
are presented as to what constitutes the According to Rav, the spiritual bond-
It symbolizes the ability of human beings “disgrace” mentioned in the Mishnah. age was the greater “disgrace,” hence he
to believe in their own G-d-given abili- underscores the spiritual freedom and
ties and to prevail, and surely that is the Rav says we should start by saying that starts with the words “in the beginning,
hope of any person enslaved, in body or “in the beginning our forefathers were our forefathers were idol worshippers.”
idol worshippers,” whereas Shmuel
in soul. The word “spring” conveys hope believes we should begin by saying “we Shmuel of course knows spiritual free-
that a meaningful change will occur and were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt.” The dom is important, but it cannot be
herald a better future. achieved without physical freedom.
Gemara then relates a story about Rabbi Therefore, he says we have to begin by
The Exodus is a prototype for liberty. Nachman, who asked his slave: “In the expressing our thanks for the physical
case of a slave whose master delivers him freedom by saying “we were slaves to
It is no coincidence that the founding from slavery and gives him his freedom Pharaoh in Egypt.”
fathers of the United States drew inspira- and silver and gold as well, what should
tion from the Torah. Across from Inde- the slave thank his master for first?” The key message we are instructed to
pendence Hall in Philadelphia, where The slave replied: “He should thank his pass down from generation to genera-
the US Declaration of Independence master for giving him his freedom, and tion is that G-d facilitated – and facili-
and Constitution were signed, hangs only then should he praise him for giving tates – both types of freedom. Moreover,
the Liberty Bell, one of the most iconic him a lot of money.” Accordingly, Rabbi we cannot have one without the other,
symbols of American independence. It Nachman stipulated that we should and when we know how to use both our
bears the following inscription from the begin the Haggadah by saying “we were physical and spiritual freedom for the
Tanach: “Proclaim liberty throughout all slaves.” greater good and growth of society, that
the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” is perhaps the most profound praise we
To understand the debate between can give to the Almighty.
The Mishnah in Pesachim, which deals Rav and Shmuel, let us briefly discuss
with our telling of the story of the freedom. There is freedom of the body Rabbi Yechiel Wasserman is Head of the
Center for Religious Affairs in the Diaspora
Exodus on Seder Night, stipulates that (freedom from) and freedom of the soul in the World Zionist Organization and one
we should “begin with disgrace and end (freedom to). On the one hand, when of World Mizrachi's representatives in the
with praise.” In other words, the story Bnei Yisrael left Egypt, they had freedom National Institutions.

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