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Rashi explains that before Moshe’s mission began, there was a period of hester panim (a hidden divine face), a phenomenon whose dangerous consequences can be appreciated by those of our generations and many others. Therefore, with the "knowing," Rashi explains, "He put his heart upon them and did not turn His eyes away."
Ibn Ezra explains in a different direction: "Hashem saw the Egyptian treachery that they performed openly, and He knew what they were doing clandestinely." According to this, the topic of the knowledge was the Egyptians’ behavior. The idea of torture done behind the gates of death camps is also something we, unfortunately, can relate to.
Abarbanel says:" On the one hand, he heard Bnei Yisrael’s anguish, and on the other hand, he saw that Bnei Yisrael acted in the manner of the Land of Egypt, regarding their idolatry. Despite this, Hashem tipped their judgment toward merit, "knew" them, and had mercy on them to liberate them." Abarbanel seems to be based on a midrash (Rabba, Shemot 1). "Hashem saw that they will in the future rebel at Yam Suf, and He knew that they would say there ‘He is my G-d;’ He saw that they would say [at the Golden Calf] ‘these are your gods, Israel,’ and He knew that they would say ‘We will do’ before ‘We will hear.’"
The midrash is trying to deal with the nation’s situation: on one hand, it is able to reach great spiritual heights and, on the other, it falls into deep pits in regard to keeping mitzvot and fear of Hashem. This crucial pasuk, at the cusp of liberation, provides a great lesson for our times. If we want to know what can cause Hashem to "rule" in our favor, we can look at the next passage in the midrash: "He saw that the average people repented and even the wicked people had thoughts of repentance, and Hashem knew, because one person did not know what was in his counterpart’s heart, but each one had thoughts of repentance in his heart."
This teaches us that people may tend to repent in a way that only Hashem knows. It is not only the righteous who "carry the nation on their backs." Even the average and the wicked lend a hand and are righteous in their own way. In the past years, despite deterioration in certain areas, there are hidden holy thoughts in the nation, and these sprout up in between the cracks throughout Israeli society. This is a much broader phenomenon than the movement of open teshuva. This joins with open advances in Israel in important areas.
Even if the path is long, let us internalize our parasha’s message. We should look for these thoughts of teshuva, including in social, moral, and values-based fields, and encourage their growth. If we rush matters and think we can easily turn them into full teshuva, we will ruin progress. But the seeds are there. "Hashem knew." Friends, let us employ patience.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.