Dear Alumni Sheyichyu!
Sholom U’Brocho!
Mazel Tov to Rabbi and Mrs. Duvidel Levine, on the birth of their daughter. May they bring her up lTO veCHuMAA”T mitoch harchovo, and to be a true chayolo! Mazel Tov to Yisroel Noach Raichik on the occasion of his engagement. May he use out the special period of Yokor Mikol yokor to its’ utmost! Mazel Tov to Shmully Schochet on the occasion of his chasunah. May their new home be set up in accordance with the Rebbe’s wishes, and be a keli for all brochos! Mazel Tov as well to Rabbi and Mrs. Yossi Schochet and family. Mazel Tov to Rabbi Boruch Merkur on the occasion of his 40th birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho bGEFEN b’GUR! (If anyone is aware of any mazeltov’s that I omitted please let me know).
Now that so many of you have – Boruch Hashem, kein Yirbu – cut down on your internet and blackberry use, you’re probably cut off from what’s going on in the world around you. So, lest you feel deprived, I’ll try to keep you abreast of the important current events in the world news:
The biggest news story of the past week is from Egypt, where the country is in the midst of an upheaval. Well over a million people are marching in the street, demanding the immediate resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, and calling for a new government of freedom and democracy. The massive protests received support of numerous world leaders, who called on Mubarak to listen the voice of the people, and agree to resign.
While initially the protests were primarily peaceful in nature, they have already (predictably) become increasingly violent, with clashes between government supporters and anti-government rioters leading to bloodshed. Yet, over a week into the melee, there are no signs of it diminishing.
As always, our first concern is “vos iz besser far di Yidden”. We are less concerned about the rights and liberties of the Egyptian citizens than we are about how this will affect Israel, just beyond its border. Would a new regime usher in an era of increased understanding and cooperation between the 2 nations, or would the vacuum created by Mubarak’s resignation leave room for a power takeover by the militant factions of the Iranian-controlled terrorist groups?
Although not a political scientist, and I cannot argue the pros or cons of the above views, I still must say that I agree with and strongly support the protesters on one point, and I believe that their position, in at least one aspect, is the one that best represents the interests of the Jewish nation:
We have, after all, a longstanding history with Egypt. We participated, once before, in a much bigger march, about 2.5 million people then to be precise. But the goal, then too, was a march to freedom and liberty.
We can’t overlook the fact that Egypt is not just another Arab nation in the Middle East. Rather, Mitzrayim was our first place of exile, and is the root of every golus, to this very day. Chazal tell us that all goluyos are referred to as Mitzrayim because they have the defining characteristic of מצירים לישראל – of oppressing the Jews. On a deeper level, the spiritual obstacles that appear in our path, the temptations and doubts that jeopardize our commitment to stay on course in our service of Hashem, are also a form of mitzrayim; - meitzarim u’gvulim (obstacles and limitations).
Indeed, although we left Egypt about 3313 years ago, our destiny is indelibly tied to it. Our greatly anticipated liberation from the current much-too-long golus is dependent on our taking the last step in severing our last connection with Mitzrayim. The Possuk tells us that (although we left Egypt in the physical sense many centuries ago) every day that we get nearer to redemption is another stage in yetzias Mitzrayim. The ultimate geulah is synonymous with the ultimate climax of yetzias Mitzrayim.
It is, therefore, in my humble opinion, impossible not to see historical significance in this unprecedented rebellion against the current powers ruling Egypt, just at the time that we are standing at the threshold of our spiritually defeating of the last vestiges of that ancient power. Surely we can’t fail to see the occurrences on this physical plane as a reflection of the toppling of the kellipah of Mitzrayim that has held us hostage (and suppressed our true liberty) since the beginning of time!
Moreover, when we took the first step, were freed of our physical bondage in Egypt, it was preceded by the phenomenon of “Lemakeh Mitzrayim be’bchoireihem”;- of the Egyptians waging an internal war against each other, that greatly weakened the two sides. This was not just another minor detail in the unfolding chain of events; - rather this was the ness gadol, - the great miracle, that led to the designation of the Shabbos before Pesach as Shabbos haGadol.
How can we, then, not attach great importance to the re-enactment of the similar civil war, the violent clashes between the warring factions of Egyptians in this massive march for liberation?! Just as then, this represented the elevation and refinement of Mitzrayim itself, to the point that its own citizens strived to destroy the kelippah represented by the regime, can we not, similarly, see in the current events a reflection of the birur, the refinement, of the lowest element of golus and worldliness?!
Come to think of it, did you hear where all the action is actually taking place? In “Liberation Square”! What is “Liberation Square” doing in Egypt in the first place, other than the fact that the Liberation will coincide with the final subjugation of the kelipah of Mitzrayim?
[Another point: How does all of the unrest affect the rest of the world in the most direct way? Why, at the gas pumps, of course. The instability in Egypt causes a surge in oil prices, which we immediately see reflected in higher gas prices.
Well, we all know that oil, shemen, represents pnimiyus haTorah, תורתו של משיח. Is it any wonder, then, the rise in value of oil is in direct proportion to the upheavals in the region of Mitzrayim. (Not to mention the natural association of OIL with kabolas OIL, the obvious antithesis of meitzarim u’gvulim).
What does all this say to us in a practical sense?
First of all, I think we should all get out there and join the revolution! There’s no need to fly to Egypt, we are BH faced with an ample supply of our own Mitzrayim. We all face more than enough limitations, beginning with the boundaries and limitations that we create for ourselves.
Now is time to topple the regime, to march to liberation. And the first step is by eliminating the Mitzrayim from within. Break free from your own boundaries, your own meitzarim. Learn a little bit more than you felt like learning. Daven a little bit longer than you thought you were able to. Give a little bit more tzedakah than you imagined yourself capable of. Be kind to someone that your natural feelings don’t allow you to be nice to.
It makes no difference what your particular boundaries are, for there are endless levels of Mitzrayim. Whether your struggle is to free yourself from your animalistic urge to look at, think, speak or do what is forbidden, or your struggle is to imbue more enthusiasm (and come a bit earlier) into your learning of a maamar, the battle against Egypt is the most timely and timeless war that faces us.
It is not for naught that near the beginning of the first Parsha of the all-important Krias Shma we say “bechol me’odecho”;- get out of, beyond, your limitations, whatever they may be.
And then, in turn, identify new ones, and continue to struggle against them.
In fact, undoubtedly, the cellphone and internet regime, that so many of us are enslaved by, is the most common embodiment of the ancient Mitzrayim. And the steps that so many of you took to weaken its hold on you, is your own march to liberation, a true Liberty Square, which you can take great pride in.
The state of bondage, the oppressive regime, has lasted long enough. It’s time to be liberated.
If we really want to get to the bottom of it, our meitzarim, our limitations, consist of our being confined to our physical existence with our inherent physical limitations. We are imprisoned by the extremes of our bodily dimensions. Everything existing in this physical world shares the identical limitation, it’s locked into the definition of its being.
But this, too, can be overcome. When physical materials are transformed to objects of kedusha, then they have transcended their physical limitations, and have been liberated from even the most subtle state of Mitzrayim. This is the theme of Parshas Teruma, in which we are commanded ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם – to take 13 or 15 physical materials and transform them into a beis hamikdosh.
This is not just using these materials for a holy task. Rather, it is elevating them, transforming their very essence from physicality to G-dliness. It is the liberating of the material dimensions of the world from their shackles, and reflects the ultimate purpose of the creation of the world.
Thus it is most fitting that the historical move to overthrow the yoke of the literal Egyptian rule coincides with the mitzvah of breaking through the last barriers of gashmiyus olam hazeh.
As we read Parshas Terumah, and as we enter the joyous month of Adar (preparing for the avodah of add’lo yoda, transcending even the meitzarim of intellect), let us take the opportunity to identify the significant obstacles and boundaries in our own life and avodas Hashem, and take the appropriate steps to overcome them.
Whatever may be the political ramifications, on one level we can surely support the Egyptian people. The oppression of Mitzrayim has definitely lasted far too long.
It’s high time (di hechste tzeit) to march to liberty!
L’chaim! May we all to our part to march against (and out of) Mitzrayim, in a march towards the true and complete liberation, and may the Eibishter, in turn, do His part to finally eradicate the last traces of meitzarim u’gvulim, and transform this bitter golus – once and for all – into the era of true freedom under the sole presidency of our righteous Moshiach Tzidkeinu TUMYM!!!
Rabbi Akiva Wagner
