We are again delighted to host a perceptive and provocative devar Torah on the week's parsha from Rabbi Paul Bloom. Thanks, Paul, for all your efforts--and for remembering us.
This
devar Torah discusses an often-overlooked element of the Pesach
Seder—the fifth cup of wine—and the profound lessons it holds for our lives.
Our Sages teach us that the four cups of wine correspond to the four
“expressions of redemption” found in Sefer Shemot (Exodus):
'לָכֵן אֱמֹר לְבָנֵי־ישְׂרָאֵל אֲנִי ה וְהוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מִתַּחַת סַבְלת מִצְרִים וְהַצַלְתִּי אֶתְכֶם מַעֲבֹדָתָם וְגאַלְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בַּזְרוֹע נְטוּיָה וּבַשְׁפָטִים גדלים וְלָקַחְתִּי אֶתְכֶם לִי לְעָם וְהָייתי לָכֶם לָאלֹהִים וְיִדַעְתָּם כִּי אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם הַמוֹצִיא אֶתְכֶם מִתָּחַת סְבְלוֹת מִצְרִים
- “I will take you out
from under the burdens of Egypt,”
- “I will save you from their
bondage,”
- “I will redeem you with an
outstretched arm and great judgments,”
- “I will take you to Me
as a people, and I will be your God.”
These
four stages mark a transformative process—from physical liberation to spiritual
redemption. Yet our tradition also alludes to a fifth expression, a culmination
of the journey: entering the Promised Land and achieving our full potential as
Hashem’s nation.
וְהֵבֵאתִ֤י אֶתְכֶם֙ אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָשָׂ֙אתִי֙ אֶת־יָדִ֔י לָתֵ֣ת אֹתָ֔הּ לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם לְיִצְחָ֖ק וּֽלְיַעֲקֹ֑ב וְנָתַתִּ֨י אֹתָ֥הּ לָכֶ֛ם מוֹרָשָׁ֖ה אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃
I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession, I Hashem.”
וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר מֹשֶׁ֛ה כֵּ֖ן אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֤א שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה מִקֹּ֣צֶר ר֔וּחַ וּמֵעֲבֹדָ֖ה קָשָֽׁה׃
But when Moses told this to the Israelites, they would not listen to
Moses, their spirits crushed by cruel bondage.
The
question that the Commentators ask is what does, מִקֹּ֣צֶר ר֔וּחַ, shortness of spirit mean? The
Ramban teaches that their inability to listen was not due to a lack of faith.
They believed, but they were utterly exhausted—physically and spiritually
crushed under the weight of slavery. The Midrash takes this further, explaining
that Bnei Yisrael were so immersed in the culture of Mitzrayim—its paganism,
its worldview—that they couldn’t comprehend the magnitude of Moshe’s message.
This
is not just an ancient story; it’s a mirror for our lives today. Just as Bnei
Yisrael struggled to reframe their identity and rise above their circumstances,
we too often find ourselves trapped in modern forms of galut. Immersed
in the distractions of secularism, materialism, and the relentless demands of
daily life, we can lose sight of the spiritual messages calling to us.
A Wake-Up Call: The Ten
Plagues
The
ten plagues were not merely punishments for Egypt; they were a shock to awaken
Bnei Yisrael. Each plague shattered illusions of Egypt’s supremacy, revealing
Hashem’s power and presence. This was a necessary process to free not only
their bodies but also their minds and souls from the “shortness of spirit” that
clouded their vision. We, too, need moments that pull us out of the relentless
cycle of work and worry. Without these interruptions, we risk losing
perspective, becoming so consumed by immediate concerns that we neglect what
truly matters.
Stephen
Covey, in his famous book The Seven
Habits of Highly Effective People, illustrates this with the metaphor of
sharpening the saw. A man sawing tirelessly through a tree is told to pause and
sharpen his saw, to which he replies, “I’m too busy sawing to stop.” This
captures a profound truth: relentless activity without reflection leads to
burnout and inefficiency.
Shabbat
is one of our antidotes to this “shortness of spirit.” It is the time we step
off the treadmill, reconnect with our inner selves, our families, and our
Creator. On Shabbat, we pause to hear the voices of our loved ones, to study
Torah, and to reflect on our purpose. It is in these moments of stillness that
we regain clarity and strength.
The Fifth Expression:
Choice and Destiny
The
Sforno and Or HaChaim offer a fascinating insight into the fifth expression of
redemption. They note that the first four stages of geulah were gifts
from Hashem—unconditional and imposed upon Bnei Yisrael, primarily because B'nai
Israel did not want to leave Egypt. The fifth stage, however, required their
active choice. Entering the Promised Land, building a holy nation, and living
with emunah were predicated on their willingness to rise to the
challenge. And in fact, mo-one (except Joshua and Calev) who was over the age
of 20 at the time they left Egypt ever entered Israel because of the Sin of the
Spies.
This
duality—between the gifts we are given and the choices we make—is central to
our lives. Hashem bestows upon us countless blessings: our families, talents,
and opportunities. But how we use these gifts—whether we dedicate them to a
higher purpose or squander them—is up to us.
Lessons for Today
The
story of Bnei Yisrael’s redemption is not just a historical narrative; it is a
timeless message about human nature. Like our ancestors, we often become so
overwhelmed by the “urgent”—the daily demands and challenges—that we lose sight
of the “important.” If you ask a struggling businessman about his five-year
vision, he might respond, “I’m just trying to get through this week!” This
mindset is natural, but it is also limiting. True growth requires stepping
back, refocusing, and embracing the larger vision.
Do
the Jews of the Diaspora face similar challenges to those of Bnei Yisrael in
Egypt? Are they caught up in the urgent while ignoring the important? Have they
grown too comfortable with the materialism of the Diaspora, losing sight of
Hashem’s vision for kibbutz galuyot
(the ingathering of exiles) and returning to Israel? Will the miracles of the
past 15 months serve as a wake-up call?
The
fifth cup reminds us that, while Hashem provides the foundation, it is up to us
to build upon it. It challenges us to differentiate between the wheat and the
chaff, the urgent and the important, and to align our lives with the divine
vision.
A Blessing
As
we reflect on this parsha, may we find the strength to rise above the
distractions and burdens that weigh us down. May we pause to sharpen the saw,
to listen to the voices of Torah and those around us, and to embrace our role
as Hashem’s partners in building a better world. Let us see the vision Hashem
has given us and follow it with clarity and purpose.
