Capturing the Energy of Yetzias Mitzrayim
A short thought on how we can use the energy of Yetzias Mitzrayim to get through our daily challenges.
Bnei Yisrael are finally on their way out of Mitzrayim. Hashem tells Moshe that every one must bring a Korban Pesach and that for all eternity we must remember that we went out of Mitzrayim.
As the Mishnah teaches us1, and is repeated in the Haggadah:
בְּכׇל דּוֹר וָדוֹר חַיָּיב אָדָם לִרְאוֹת אֶת עַצְמוֹ כְּאִילּוּ הוּא יָצָא מִמִּצְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהִגַּדְתָּ לְבִנְךָ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לֵאמֹר בַּעֲבוּר זֶה עָשָׂה ה׳ לִי בְּצֵאתִי מִמִּצְרָיִם״.
The tanna of the mishna further states: In each and every generation a person must view himself as though he personally left Egypt, as it is stated: “And you shall tell your son on that day, saying: It is because of this which the Lord did for me when I came forth out of Egypt” (Exodus 13:8). In every generation, each person must say: “This which the Lord did for me,” and not: This which the Lord did for my forefathers.
The Gemara comments:
אָמַר רָבָא: צָרִיךְ שֶׁיֹּאמַר ״וְאוֹתָנוּ הוֹצִיא מִשָּׁם״.
Rava said: When mentioning the exodus from Egypt one must say: And He took us out from there.
This means to say that each of us has to understand that we, as individuals, were taken out of Mitzrayim.
We were all in Mitzrayim, and when our ancestors left all our neshomos left as well. Therefore Hashem commanded us to always remember yetzias Mitzrayim, Rav Moshe Weinberger2 explains that this is an ongoing thing, just like we got out of Mitzrayim, we are able to get out of whatever turmoil we are going through.
This missive to remember yetzias Mitzrayim is not just limited to Pesach, rather it is for every single day. Therefore every single day one must view himself as if he is leaving Mitzrayim.
When we remember something, we bring it forward to our reality. This concept applies as we are able to bring in the energy of yetzias Mitzrayim and use it to leave whatever pain we are in or whatever challenge we are facing. That is the new aspect of yetzias Mitzrayim in each of our lives.
Therefore, Rav Chaim Walkin writes,3 that it is incumbent on one to think every single day, ‘If I was in Mitzrayim, how would I choose, would I stay with the culture of Mitzrayim or go with the Word of Hashem?’ The same choice is relevant in our everyday life, is what I am doing going to bring me closer to Hashem or further from Him.
The spiritual exodus of Mitzrayim is applicable each and every day.
Rav Yitzchak Meir Morgenstern
My father often repeats from his Rebbe, Rav Scheinberg Zt’l that every choice in life boils down to a decision as to whether it is a Kiddush Hashem or Chillul Hashem. When we live with this mindfulness we are zoche to see our own personal yetzias Mitzrayim every day and live the fulfillment of בַּעֲבוּר זֶה עָשָׂה ה׳ לִי בְּצֵאתִי מִמִּצְרָיִם
Have a sweet Shabbos
Pesachim 116b
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1054269/rabbi-moshe-weinberger/chaburah-yosef-hatzadik-168-leaving-mitzrayim-on-a-daily-basis/
Da’as Chaim u’Mussar - Bo