Parshat Shemos 5777
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We begin reading this Shabbos sefer Shemos which the Ramban refers to as "Sefer HaGeulah". We read of the slavery and galus in Mitzrayim and ultimately the redemption and the receiving of the Torah. The Zohar Hakadosh teaches us that not only were Bnei Yisrael physically in galus, but Dibbur, the power of speech, was also in galus. What does it mean that speech was in galus?
The Sfas Emes explains that Dibbur being in galus represents the fact that we needed to receive the Torah and the Aseres HaDibros. Hashem wanted to give us the Torah but we were not able to receive the word of Hashem until the redemption from Mitzrayim. The Dibbur being in galus expresses the idea that we couldn't yet receive the Dibros from Hashem.
When Moshe Rabbeinu encounters Dasan V'Aviram fighting and is told off, he responds (Chapter 2, Pasuk 14), Achen Noda HaDavar, the matter is known. Rashi comments that Moshe says now I understand why Bnei Yisrael are in galus; their speech is problematic. They speak evil of each other; they report on each other and therefore their speech is in galus. There had to be a purification of speech before we could use our mouths to learn Torah. They had to first be purified in the fiery furnace of Mitzrayim before being able to receive the Aseres HaDibros from Hashem. This is the meaning of the teaching of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in Berachos 5A that Torah is acquired B'Yisurin with suffering.
A similar process of speech being purified while in galus takes place on a daily basis. The defining characteristic of man is his speech. This is taught by Onkelos on the words in parshat Bereishis (Chapter 2, Pasuk 7), Vayehi Ha'Adam L'Nefesh Chayah. The essential spiritual nature of man is his ability to speak. The Sfas Emes explains that the collective Neshamos of Bnei Yisrael are trapped inside their bodies and influenced negatively by their physical essence thereby creating a galus for their holiness of speech. Every day we need to be involved in the process of purifying our speech and removing the bad. We have a daily mitzvah of Zechiras Yetzias Mitzrayim, just mentioning the exodus from Egypt as a way of reminding ourselves of the process we need to be constantly involved in; our speech is still in galus.
We say in davening in Birchos Keriyas Shema, Motzi Asirim U'Fodeh Anavim V'Ozer Dalim. Three different categories are mentioned here as a way of indicating the three levels of people in galus that Hashem took out from Mitzrayim. The lowest level is Ozer Dalim, those who are so impoverished they don't even realize they are in galus. We read in next week's parsha (Chapter 6, Pasuk 6), V'Hotzaisi Eschem Mitachas Sivlos Mitzrayim. The Sfas Emes explains this to mean I will take you out when you reach the point that you can't stomach being in Mitzrayim, Lo Yachlu Lisbol Mitzrayim. The Dalim had to first be made aware of their state before they could be redeemed.
The same thing is true on a daily basis. One has to realize his condition before he can improve himself and purify his speech. On Shabbos, when melacha is prohibited, the body takes a back seat to the spirit and his speech has a chance to be uplifted. One's Torah learning is on a higher level on Shabbos as well since one's Neshamah has an opportunity to escape the confines of the guf. This geulah of Shabbos renders Shabbos a reminder of Yetzias Mitzrayim, as we say in Kiddush Zecher L'Yetzias Mitzrayim. May we use the spiritual geulah of uplifted speech on Shabbos as a model for us to continue on a daily basis the process of allowing our Dibbur to leave the confines of galus.
Good Shabbos
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