Parashat Vaera in english 5769
הרב דוד דניאל הכהן שליט״א
תקציר
Starting from the Gemara in Pesachim, which says the Haggadah must begin with disgrace and end with praise, the Rav asks why we recall our past failings on the night of Pesach. He explains the two opinions on where to start: Avadim Hayinu, or "our fathers were idol worshippers" before Avraham. Following the Tosafot and an explanation from the Gemara in Megillah, he says Israel's idolatry was never fully willing: since Adam's sin, the souls of Israel were mixed in the roots of the nations and in Egypt they were under their influence. The Rav says Hashem looks at our change, not at our past. In his view, the weeks in which the Exodus is read are a time to repent, especially for wrong relationships, which the Zohar compares to idolatry. The name Mitzrayim, he adds, points to every narrow place from which Hashem helps us out.
רגעים מרכזיים
- 0:15 The Haggadah begins with disgrace: why recall our past mistakes פסח תשובה
- 1:53 Israel accepted the Torah under compulsion at Sinai, and willingly in the days of Mordechai לימוד תורה פורים
- 3:18 Tosafot: the excuse of compulsion does not apply to idolatry הלכה מצוות
- 4:24 The Gemara in Megillah: Israel's idolatry was not willing אמונה פורים
- 6:56 The two opinions: begin with Avadim Hayinu, or with Avraham's fathers האבות פסח
- 7:43 Adam's mistake: the souls of Israel mixed with the roots of the nations קבלה נשמה סוד
- 8:44 Avraham the Ivri separates himself and Hashem accepts our return האבות תשובה
- 10:29 In Egypt, the influence of the nations and the absence of Torah גלות פסח
- 11:07 The nations' influence today and the time to repent for wrong relationships אקטואליה זוגיות ומשפחה תשובה
- 12:39 The Zohar: such a relationship pushes the Shechina away שכינה סוד
- 13:38 Mitzrayim as every narrow place from which Hashem brings us out גלות גאולה משיח