Parshas Bo
In this week’s Parsha we read how Klal Yisrael is finally sent out of Mitzrayim, following Makkas Bechoros, as the Possuk says:
ויקרא למשה ולאהרן לילה ויאמר קומו צאו מתוך עמי
Paroah begged Klal Yisrael to leave Mitzrayim! This was as a result of the 10 Makkos when Mitzrayim and Paroah saw the Yad Hashem and realized that they were powerless in its face. We have to understand; why was it necessary to bring 10 Makkos to see Yad Hashem, Hashem could have started with Makkos Bechoros and that would have been enough for Mitzrayim to send them out?
We can find a clue to answer this question from the beginning of this Parsha. The Possuk says:
ולמען תספר באזני בנך ובן בנך את אשר התעללתי במצרים
For all generations Klal Yisreal will be telling the story of the 10 Makkos. By talking about these miracles we come to the realization that there’s an Aibishter who controls everything. So whether it’s controlling the water as we see by Dom, controlling the earth by Kinnim, controlling the animals as seen in Aruv and Dever, the air as seen Choshech or human life as seen by Makos Bechoros, the 10 Makkos show us that Hashem is in charge. And so that is the point of having 10 Makkos, to glorify Hashem’s name and strengthen our Emunah for all generations by witnessing and talking about these Miracles.
Rav Yaakov Kaminetzky asks; we find that for the 1st few Makkos, The Chartumim could copy them and thus Paroah was not impressed by it. Why is that today we don’t hear about real magic being performed, and while there is a huge industry of magicians nowadays, we all know that it’s all illusions and not real. So why was it once real, and not today? We also find that in Chazal’s time there were creatures known as Shaidim, which were real forces, demons which they saw. Why are these creatures not seen today?
Explains Rav Yaakov, based on the possuk in Koheles :
זה לעומת זה עשה אלוקים
Everything in creation is balanced, so whatever exists in Kedusha exacts also in Tumah., This is necessary so there will be free will in the world, so everything is balanced, and a person has a choice to make. When the Koach of Kedusha was great and there were נביאים, there had to exist a counter balance, something on the opposing side of Tumah so there will be free will in the world, so that, is why real magic, existed in that period. As the generations went down and Nevua disappeared, so too did real magic. In Chazal’s time, there was no Nevuah but there was something known as a Bas Kol a heavenly voice which we read about often. To counter this there were Sheidim, forces of Tumah, and gradually as Kedusha went down those too disappeared. In 1909 the Chafetz Chaim was involved in removing a Dibbuk, a spirit who possessed a young girl. His Talmid, Rav Elchonon Wasserman said that this would be the last Dibbuk to appear, as a giant like the Chofetz Chaim would never be again, so with less Kedusha there will be less Tumah as well.
But being that nowadays we don’t see open Nissim how then do we strengthen our Emunah? The Ramban writes at the end of the Parsha, that we do that by recounting the Miracles of יציאת מצרים through the many Mitzvos we fulfill. This is done daily through Tefillin and Mezuza as well as saying Shema, as well as the Yomim Tovim of Pesach, and Sukkos. By remembering those great Nisim and retelling them to our children we are strengthening our Emunah in Hashem and always reminding ourselves that, whether we see it openly or not, Hashem is always there and watching us.
Rav Yisrael Salanter would frequent an inn during his travels. The proprietor was a G-d fearing Yid. Yet, on one of his stays by the inn, R’ Yisrael noted that the inn keeper was being lax in his Mitzva observance. Upon inquiry, he told R’ Yisrael that some weeks prior, a Maskil, a secular Jew had stayed at the inn and challenged the inn keepers Emunah, by eating non-kosher food. “If there’s a G-d,” said the guest, “Let him punish me for eating this food.” Indeed he ate it, and nothing happened. This incident caused the inn keeper to doubt his Emunah. R’ Yisrael did not say anything in response. Sometime later he approached the inn keepers daughter. “I heard that you are a talented musician, can you please play a number for me?” The daughter refused on the grounds that she was busy at the time. Responded R’ Yisrael “How then do I know that you can actually play music? Maybe you made it up?” The girl pointed to her diploma hanging on the wall.” That paper is proof that I am a talented musician. I proved myself in school, and that is enough.” R’ Yisrael turned to her father, the inn keeper, and said: “ Just like your daughter does not need to prove again that she can play music, so too Hashem already proved himself in Mitzrayim to the whole world. He does not need to prove it again. “
By remembering and internalizing the story of יציאת מצרים, may we all merit strengthening our Emunah each and every day.
Weekly Parsha Shiur 