Following this illuminating path, we will now proceed to explain why HKB”H taught us to recite the berachah on bread of "המוציא לחם מן הארץ" specifically from the passuk related to “yetzias Mitzrayim: אתכם מתחת סבלות מצרים"המוציא". We will begin by referring to a comment of Rashi’s (Pesachim 99b) based on teachings in the Yerushalmi (Pesachim 10, 1) and the Midrash (ibid. 88, 5). He explains the basis for the practice instituted by Chazal of drinking four cups of wine on the first night of Pesach: They commemorate the four expressions of geulah mentioned in association with galus Mitzrayim in parshas Vaeira: והוצאתי אתכם, והצלתי אתכם, וגאלתי אתכם, ולקחתי אתכם. In reality, there was only one geulah from Mitzrayim. So, why was it necessary to mention four expressions of geulah? Clearly, they are significant, since Chazal saw fit to commemorate them with the “arba kosot.”
We find an intriguing explanation in the Megaleh Amukos on Vaeschanan (236). He refers to a teaching of the illustrious Arizal in Sha’ar HaPesukim (Shemos). When Adam HaRishon sinned by eating from the Eitz HaDa’as Tov VaRa, all the neshamos destined to come into this world were contained within him. Hence, they were all sullied by his sin. They achieved their tikun through several reincarnations—the generation of the mabul, the generation of the dispersion, and the corrupt inhabitants of Sedom. In each of those gilgulim, they continued to sin and remained wicked. Therefore, all of those generations reincarnated into the generations in Mitzrayim to achieve their tikun through the arduous enslavement.
In truth, the Arizal only mentions three generations; the Megaleh Amukos, however, includes a fourth generation that also required tikun—the generation of Enosh—which is included in the generation of the mabul. Thus, the exodus from Mitzrayim encompassed four geulos—i.e., geulos of four distinct generations. Hence, we drink four cups of wine on the first night of Pesach corresponding to these four generations.
With this in mind, the Megaleh Amukos adds an amazing allusion regarding David HaMelech’s declaration (Tehillim 6, 7): "מטתי בדמעתי ערשי אמסה"—I drench my bed every night; I soak my couch with my tears. With these words, he expresses his heartfelt intent to cry and make amends for the wrongdoings of these four generations, alluded to by the word אמס״ה—an acronym for א'נוש מ'בול ס'דום ה'פלגה. As we have explained previously, David HaMelech, a”h, was a gilgul of Adam HaRishon, who contributed seventy years of his life to David HaMelech.
Returning to this week’s parsha, we find that these four evil, corrupt generations that reincarnated into Mitzrayim to achieve their tikun are alluded to by the first letters of the words: "ה'מוציא א'תכם מ'תחת ס'בלות"—i.e., ה'פלגה א'נוש מ'בול ס'דום. We can now begin to appreciate the connection between the berachah of "המוציא לחם מן הארץ" and the passuk appearing immediately after the four expressions of geulah: ם לאלקים, וידעתם כי אני ה' אלקיכם"ולקחתי אתכם לי לעם והייתי ל
To receive the mamarim by email: [email protected] המוציא אתכם מתחת סבלות מצרים"—I shall take you to Me for a people and I shall be a G-d to you; and you shall know that I am Hashem your G-d, Who takes you out from under the burdens of Mitzrayim. As explained, the four expressions of geulah correspond to the four generations of the mabul, Enosh, the dispersion, and Sedom; they were all sullied by the “cheit Eitz HaDa’as” and achieved their tikun in Mitzrayim. Similarly, the berachah of “hamotzi” constitutes a marvelous tikun for the “cheit Eitz HaDa’as,” which involved bread. As explained, the formula of this berachah—“hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz”—alludes both to the past—when HKB”H provided Adam with fully prepared, ready to eat bread rolls prior to the cheit. Additionally, this berachah represents a prayer for the future total tikun, when HKB”H will once again provide us with fully prepared bread growing from the earth.
