This week’s Torah portion, Bo, tells the story of the first Passover offering, which the Jews were commanded to bring in Egypt. G-d commanded that this mitzvah be observed in future generations as well, but there are several differences between the Passover offering brought in Egypt and the one brought in later generations.
One of the differences is that with the Passover offering in Egypt, each person slaughtered within their house, while with the Passover offering in future generations, all of Israel slaughtered in one place (in the Temple Courtyard).
In this regard, the Passover offering in Egypt was exceptional, even during a time when it was permitted to offer sacrifices on public altars, bamot. In those days, it was allowed to offer sacrifices at public altars, but even then, an individual was not permitted to establish a private altar to offer sacrifices. The exception was the Passover offering in Egypt, which each family brought in its home.
Uniqueness of the Passover in Egypt
Moreover, the offering of the Passover in Egypt was not only optional (reshut) but an obligation. This was G-d's command: each family was to take a "lamb for the house," slaughter it on the 14th of Nissan, and place its blood on the doorposts and lintel of one’s home.
Another innovation in the Passover offering in Egypt was that the Jews were commanded, "and you shall not go out from the door of your house until morning." On the surface, this was meant to protect them from the "destroyer," but the Sages explain that this was an additional stringency: where eating took place, there also was sleeping, as opposed to the Passover offering of future generations—eating was in one place and sleeping in another.
The Birth of the Jewish People
These special laws of the Passover in Egypt are connected to the fact that the Exodus from Egypt marked the birth of the Jewish people. Therefore, it contained elements emphasizing the purpose of the Jewish people and their mission on earth.
The purpose of creation, as the Midrash says, is "G-d desired to have a dwelling place in the lower realms." This purpose began to be fulfilled through the construction of the Tabernacle, which became a defined physical place in this world for G-d's presence.
However, the goal of the Tabernacle is that divine holiness should dwell in every Jewish person, as it says, "and they shall make for Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell among them"—within each individual Jew.
Emphasizing the Purpose
While the level of holiness that illuminates the Tabernacle and the Temple is far higher than the level of holiness a Jew can bring into his soul through his personal service, it is not enough for holiness to reside solely in the Tabernacle and the Temple. Holiness must reach every Jew and every Jewish home.
Therefore, the Passover offering in Egypt was different from the offering in all future generations, because at that time, at the time of the birth of the Jewish people, the purpose of creation was emphasized—that every Jewish home should be like the Holy Temple, where the Shechinah (Divine presence) rests.
Through the offering of the Passover in every private home, each Jewish home became like a sanctuary for G-d, thereby emphasizing the purpose and mission of the Jewish people.
Adapted from the teachings of the Rebbe, Likkutei Sichot, Volume 26, p. 77.
"...with their left over food wrapped in their clothes..." (Exodus 12:34).
It is later stated that the Jewish people asked the Egyptians for ‘silver vessels, gold vessels, and garments,’ and Rashi explains that the garments were more important to them than the silver and gold. The importance of the garments stemmed from the fact that the Jews wrapped the matzot in them, and it was the fondness for the commandment that elevated their value."
(Rabbi Yisrael of Modzhitz)
Nature as a Tool in the Hands of G-d
The Egyptian culture advocated the worship of the forces of nature, reaching its peak in the spring month, when nature blossoms in all its glory. Therefore, G-d chose this particular month for the Jewish people to leave Egypt, to show everyone that nature is a tool in the hands of G-d and has no power of its own.
(the Rebbe)
"...for they had been driven out of Egypt and could not delay." (Exodus 12:39)
At the last moment of the exile, the Jews felt that they could not remain in Egypt for even a single moment, and therefore, the departure was in such haste.
(Rabbi Yaakov-Moshe Charlef)
"And they plundered Egypt" (Exodus 12:36).
The Jews gathered all the sparks of holiness that were in Egypt, and by doing so, they left it like a sea with no fish.
(Torah Or, the Alter Rebbe)
What Remains
It is known that in everything in the world there is a divine spark that sustains and gives it life. If the Jews took all the sparks of holiness from Egypt, Egypt should have completely ceased to exist. But how did it continue to exist?
The answer is that the Jews only refined the sparks that were necessary to refine, and not the sparks that were given to Egypt for the purpose of its existence.
(the Rebbe)
