Two Minute Torah Podcast

Vaera 5772 by Rabbi Mordechai Silverstein

This week’s parasha opens with the famous four words of "geula – redemption": Therefore say to the children of Israel, I am the Lord, והוצאתי אתכם and I will bring you out from under the burden of Egypt, והצלתי אתכם and I will deliver you out of their bondage, וגאלתי אתכם and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments, ולקחתי אתכם and I will take you to me as a people" (Ex. 5:6-7) There is, however, a fifth word of redemption in the following verse: "והבאתי אתכם and I will bring into the land."

In the Talmud Sanhedrin (111a): Rabbi Simai taught: In this passage it is written: "והוצאתי אתכם – and I bring you out" and "והבאתי אתכם – and I will bring you in". The exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt is compared to their entry to the land of Israel. Just as at their entry into the land of Israel there were only two out of the original 600,000 who actually entered the land, so, too, only these two, [aside from Moses, Aaron and Miriam] out of the 600,000 had complete awareness of God’s purposes at the outset." Rabbi Simai is, of course, talking about Joshua and Caleb, the only two out of all of the Israelites who left Egypt who actually entered the land of Israel.

Rabbi Meir Simcha Hacohen from Dvinsk, one of the important 19^th century Lithuanian sages culled an important message from this odd teaching. He noted that "all the great signs and miracles that were done in Egypt – the ten plagues and the splitting of the sea - were worthwhile even for two people out of the entire 600,000." This is an important message for those of us who commit ourselves to God and the Torah. It is sometimes a lonely journey. We sometimes grow weary and wonder whether sharing Torah with a single individual or a class of two is worthwhile. The message of יציאת מצרים – the Exodus from Egypt is revealing. Every single individual counts. If God was willing to pull of the extravaganza for two people, our efforts should be no less.