We read in this week's Torah portion, which opens the Book of Shmot (1,1 – 6,1): "Moshe grew up and went out to his brothers, and saw their affliction, and saw an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brothers." Rashi explains that he "set his eyes and his heart to feel badly for them." The Gerrer Rebbe writes in Beit Yisrael that the beginning of the exile in Egypt was marked by the blockage of the eyes and hearts of the Israelites, and the beginning of the redemption therefrom was the opening of the eyes and heart of Moshe Rabbeinu - and it was this that brought about G-d's seeing and attention to redeem Israel.

The Lekach v'haLibuv writes regarding this: "A Jew has a 'good eye,' one that is not closed up to his friend's suffering; he rather feels the other's sorrow as if it were his own. This is what is known as 'the eye and heart of the Children of Israel.' During the Exile, their eyes and hearts were closed, and they did not feel their brothers' suffering."

But when this changed, the Redemption began. Moshe restored Israel's true eyes and heart, by noting with his eyes his brethren's troubles and taking them to his heart, and attempting to help them.

It is brought down that the name Yisrael (Israel) is an acronym for Yesh Shishim Ribo Otiyot Latorah, meaning, "There are 60 myriad letters in the Torah" – one letter for each Jew. Just The Tiferet Shlomo says that just like a Torah scroll is not kosher if one letter touches another one, so too when one Jew touches another and harms him, the entire Torah scroll is disqualified.

That which will bring about Redemption is when each member of Israel is concerned for the entire Clal, the nation as a whole. For then we will experience again "And G-d knew" (Sh'mot 2,25) – on which Rashi explains that G-d "set His heart and eyes upon Israel," marking the beginning of the Redemption.

The initial letters of these coming weekly Torah portions, starting with Sh'mot, spell out the Hebrew word Shovavim (troublemakers). We thus call these days the period of Shovavim, and they are widely regarded as days of fasting and atonement. During this period it is also appropriate for us to show extra concern for G-d's children, because this is the way of brothers – and especially for those who, most unfortunately, have strayed from the path of Torah and mitzvot. And when we awaken to this need here down below, from above too G-d will also awaken His love for us, measure for measure.

Kabbalah books tell us that each month has a different combination of the letters of the Havayah Name, and the combination of the current month of Tevet stems from the verse, "Exalt G-d with me and we will exalt His name together." It is also stated that each month of the year is associated with a particular tribe, and Tevet is connected to that of Dan. The connection is that when the Israelites journeyed in the desert, the last one to march was Dan, "he who gathers for all the camps." This means not only physically, but also that he gathered up the souls of the laggards and tired ones who were expunged by the Cloud, those tired and weary Jews who do not fear G-d, and who have given up trying, and who feel that there is no more hope for them. The tribe of Dan would gather them back into the camp of Israel, and teach them how they too can magnify and glorify the name of G-d.

Dan teaches us not to give up on any soul of Israel, and that even the lowliest and most sinful Jew can be strengthened and encouraged to return to the compassionate G-d. This is done by being "dan l'kaf z'chut," judging each Jew favorably, finding merit in him and finding his good points. With faith in the hidden good of every member of Israel, we can extricate him from the evil net in which he is trapped and bring him anew into the sanctity of Israel.

The Lekach V'halibuv quotes Rabbeinu Tzadok who says that our primary work during the period of the Footsteps of the Mashiach is that of the Tribe of Dan, to extricate the pure from the impure. That is, the charge of the hour, and especially now in Tevet, is to bring Jews closer, and thereby help our entire nation overcome our enemies, the descendants of Esav – just as Hushim, the son of Dan, killed Esav [when he sought to be buried in the Machpelah Cave]. So too, if we grasp on to this power of Dan, the result will be Mashiach ben David, for as is written, the letters of Hushim are the same as the letters of Mashiach.

During these Shovavim days, every Jew is concerned for his eyes and heart – eyes that saw what they should not have seen, a heart that had sinful thoughts – and wants to correct what he can during this opportune period. By paying attention to and seeing Israel's distress, by taking care to help and correct others, by bringing those who feel rejected back to Judaism, by extricating them from their tribulations, whether via helping them physically or giving them money or praying for them - this is how we correct our own eyes and heart, and all of Israel as well.

Translated by Hillel Fendel