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The way the midrash (Shemot Rabba 19:5) connects Korban Pesach and milah may clarify somewhat. The people were reluctant to perform milah but, according to the midrash’s first version, when they found out it was a prerequisite for taking part in the Korban Pesach, they became willing to do it. According to the second version, it was not until the preparations for the Korban Pesach began and the smell enticed them to beg to take part that Moshe was able to get them to perform milah.
That still does not explain why the connection between the two was not revealed earlier. The midrash mentions the significance of the intermingling of the blood of the milah and that of the Pesach. Thus, the fact that the milah was done at the last moment might have had some positive value.
However, it is likely that Hashem would have preferred for the people to fulfill their sacred obligation of milah well in advance without prodding. Indeed, the midrash praises the Tribe of Levi for having been careful about the matter throughout the years of servitude. Bnei Yisrael, in their downtrodden state, were not in the practice of performing any mitzvot. They had enough trouble following the commandments that Pharaoh imposed upon them. Why should they follow the practices their fathers related from a G-d who had allowed them to be in a wretched situation? Only when the final steps of redemption were palpable, represented by the Korban Pesach, were they willing to put in their bodies a sign of servitude to Hashem instead of to Pharaoh. According to the midrash’s second version, it was not even enough to know that this was to happen. Rather, they had to "smell in the air," literally and figuratively, the festivity of freedom in order to do so.
Since ancient times, we have never forgotten the status of free men and the related obligation of milah that encourages us to give ourselves over to Hashem. May the stages of redemption and the "smell" of hopefully imminent further redemption encourage more of us to intensify our service of Hashem.
Rabbis in Midrash
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D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
