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After 210 years in Mitzrayim, after 117 years of slavery and subjugation by the Pharoahs, after 10 crushing plagues that brought once-mighty Egypt to its knees, you would think that finally, Bnei Yisrael could heave a sigh of relief, that they could leave Egypt behind and head straight for Israel. But no, it didn't quite happen that way. For no sooner had the Israelites departed, that they would again face an existentialist danger at the banks of the Reed Sea. What happened?! Why did Paro change his mind once again, reneging on his pledge to let us go?
One idea we have discussed before comes from the opening pasuk of our Sedra, "And it was, when Paro sent out the people..." Excuse me!! When WHO sent out the people?! Paro?! Wasn't it Hashem who freed us?! And so G-d, hearing that Paro was (falsely) being given credit for the Exodus, decided that He needed to do one more thing to absolutely show us that He, and He alone was our savior - and so there followed the saga of the splitting of the sea, after which the whole nation sang in unison, "Who is like You, Hashem - mighty in holiness, awesomely praised, doer of wonders; Hashem shall reign for eternity!"
But Rav David Lieberman - the venerated chief rabbi of Antwerp, who I merited to have teach me for my Bar Mitzva - has another answer. He says that after Bnei Yisrael exited Egypt, Paro began to think, "Now why did Moshe, supposedly acting on behalf of the Israelite G-d, keep asking me, pleading with me, begging me to let Israel go?! If He is such an all-powerful G-d, then why did He need my permission, my help?! Why didn't He extricate Israel all by Himself?! Obviously, He isn't so great or so mighty! In fact, He actually must fear ME!"
And so, Paro, in his final miscalculation, made the fatal decision to lead his army into battle against us. As a result, Egypt would see its place as a world power vanish into oblivion at the bottom of the sea.
What Paro failed to understand was that Hashem wanted Paro - of his own volition, without any coercion - to come to the moral conclusion that one human being has no right to enslave or oppress another human being. To acknowledge that there are boundaries of right and wrong in the universe, and that each person must use his G-d given intelligence and sense of fairness to pursue justice and decency. The problem with coercion is if you do that which is right only because you are forced to do it, then not only do you forfeit your b'chira chafsheit, your right to choose, but you will invariably revert to your evil ways when you think you can get away with it.
Paro's decision to free Bnei Yisrael could have sent a powerful, revolutionary message to the world at large, a history-changing declaration that would have vaulted him to immortal status for all time. Instead, he led his grand army to destruction, & his reputation, along with the pride and prestige of Egypt, sank forever to a watery grave.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
