Parshat Bo 5777
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week's parsha, the mitzvah of Kiddush HaChodesh, the first mitzvah commanded to Bnei Yisrael. The pasuk says (Chapter 12, Pasuk 2), HaChodesh Hazeh Lachem Rosh Chadashim, this month will be to you the first of your months. As Rashi teaches, the simple p'shat is that the month of Nissan should be counted as the first of the months. But, he adds that we learn from here the fundamental mitzvah of Kiddush HaChodesh. Hashem showed Moshe the new moon and told him that when the moon looks likes this, you shall declare it to be Rosh Chodesh. Why is this mitzvah so important and brought as the first of the mitzvos?
The parsha immediately continues with the mitzvah of Karban Pesach. Pesach Mitzrayim contained various unique mitzvos, among them the mitzvah of sprinkling the blood (Pasuk 7), Al Shtei HaMezuzos V'Al HaMashkof, on the lintel and on the two doorposts. The Medrash Rabbah ( 17, 3) explains that the lintel is in the merit of Avraham Avinu, while the two doorposts are in the merit of Yitzchak and Yaakov. What is the connection between the mitzvah of sprinkling the blood on the lintel and doorposts and the Avos?
The Sfas Emes explains that every exile is a movement away from the source. In order for Bnei Yisrael to be redeemed from their galus in Mitzrayim, they had to return to their source and the way of their forefathers. Therefore, the Medrash is teaching us that at the moment of redemption and the bringing of the Pesach, Bnei Yisrael remembered where they come from and as a result of returning to the ways of the Avos Bnei Yisrael were redeemed.
This notion that returning to one's source is redemption is expressed in the mitzvah of Eved Ivri and Yovel. An Eved Ivri goes free if the fiftieth year falls out before the completion of six years. And this halacha is taught in the Torah as (Vayikra, Chapter 21, Pasuk 45), V'El Eretz Avosav Yashuv, he shall return to his father's estate. Redemption is described as returning to one's father's home. Similarly, Yaakov tells Yosef before he dies that Hashem will redeem Bnei Yisrael with the words (Bereishis, Chapter 48, Pasuk 21), V'Heishiv Eschem El Eretz Avoseichem, He will return you to the land of your forefathers. Once again, redemption is expressed as going home to the place of one's father.
Yosef himself was spiritually redeemed by returning to his father Yaakov. Rashi quotes the famous Medrash (Bereishis, Chapter 39, Pasuk 11) which teaches that when Yosef was approached by the wife of Potiphar, he saw the image of his father Yaakov, D'mus D'Yokno shel Aviv, and immediately withdrew from the aveirah. Just as Yosef's personal redemption resulted from seeing his father, the national redemption of Bnei Yisrael resulted from the nation remembering their forefathers and wishing to restore themselves to the way of the Avos.
This process of sprinkling the blood on the three parts of the doorframe as a reference to returning to our forefathers begins with the mitzvah of Kiddush HaChodesh. This is because Kiddush HaChodesh teaches that Bnei Yisrael follow the lunar month. And the moon waxes and wanes every month, representing the idea that we experience rejuvenation every month by returning to the beginning, to the source. And though the moon gets very small and dark, we know that the process begins again and the light will return again. This is because our relationship with Hashem is very strong and has a solid foundation. That foundation is the Avos, as the Medrash on the pasuk (15, 7) quotes the pasuk in Shmuel Aleph (Chapter 2, Pasuk 8), L'Hashem Metzukei Aretz Vayashes Aleihem Tevel. They are the foundation of the land upon whom the world was established.
This is why the first mitzvah of the Torah is Kiddush HaChodesh. It's fundamental in that it teaches the basic nature of our relationship with Hashem. Our process in life is one of constant growth and movement and rejuvenation. And though we may experience periods of darkness, we know they are temporary. We know that ultimately things will return to their original pristine state. And we know that to achieve this we need to go back to and follow the ways of our forefathers. This is the basis for both our national salvation and our personal redemption as well.
Good Shabbos
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