From a Sermon of Maran zt”l for the Holiday of Pesach
The Midrash states (Midrash Rabba, Parashat Beshalach) that Pharaoh regretted having freed the Jewish people. Why was this so?
We can use a parable to illustrate this point: Once, a man owned a field that, after a long period of time of not being maintained, fell into a state of disrepair and was no more than a mere pile of dirt and rubble. This man sold the field to another. The buyer invested time, energy, and money into the field. Day after day, he cleaned it up, removed the rocks, and eventually discovered that stream of fresh water lay under the field. The new owner planted many rows of vines, pomegranates, figs, dates, and a variety of fragrant flowers and herbs. Anyone who passed the field was amazed by its breathtaking variety and beauty and heaped words of praise upon the new owner who had succeeded in turning this field into the oasis it was after it had laid in ruins for so long.
Eventually, the seller passed by one day and saw what had become of the field. He began to cry and exclaim, “How could I have sold this field?!”
The same happened with Pharoah, the wicked king of Egypt. When the Jewish people were enslaved to him in Egypt, they were nothing more than lowly slaves, and all their special attributes were completely looked over, like a pile of dirt and rubble, about whom the verse states, “A locked garden is my own bride.” However, once they left Egypt and entered the guardianship of Moshe Rabbeinu, the verse states about them, “A garden spring, a well of fresh water, a rill of Lebanon.” This is when they received the Torah and the spirit of Hashem began to take hold of them. They witnessed godly miracles and the entire world realized how precious and wise this nation really was. Pharaoh began to scream, “How could I have allowed such a special nation slip through my fingers?!”
The Jewish people did not leave Egypt only to enjoy physical freedom. Rather, the exodus from Egypt and all the other exiles we have had to endure for millennia was only meant to reveal our valuable traits and to draw us closer to our Creator. (See Maor Yisrael- Derashot, p. 156)
On behalf of the entire “Halacha Yomit” team, we would like to wish our members and the entire Jewish nation a very joyous, healthy, and kosher Passover holiday. Just as our forefathers were redeemed from Egypt during the month of Nissan, may Hashem likewise usher in our Ultimate Redemption. May we merit eating from the Paschal lamb and other offerings through the coming of our righteous King Mashiach, Amen!
Tizku Le’Shanim Rabbot Ne’imot Ve’Tovot!
