 |
| The First Pesach |
Although the comparison is not exact, the feeling is
inescapable. At least for me.
It is my usual custom to relate a short D’var Torah on Erev Yom
Tov. There is no reason not to do so this year. As is often the case I found a relevant D’var Torah in Torah L’Daas. It is about the 10th plague – Makos Bechoros
As most people know there were ten plagues that God thrust
upon the Egyptians to show His mighty hand. God purposely waited until the 10th
plague before unlocking Pharaoh’s hardened heart to let our people go and serve
Him. The tenth plague is how the holiday got its name. Pesach means door and Passover
is what the Mashchis (as it is referred to in the Torah) did to our homes as
it was killing all the Egyptian firstborn. It passed over all the homes our ancestors whose doorpost were painted with lamb’s blood.
The fact that the Torah tells us that there was a Mashchis
contradicts the theme mentioned in the Hagadah itself. It was God himself that
saved us, not His messenger (Moshe) or an angel. That is in fact why Moshe’s
name is mentioned but once - and only in
passing. To show that it was God, not Moshe.
What is this Mashchis about, then?
What is this Mashchis about, then?
The Gra answers that indeed it was God that directly killed
the Egyptian firstborn. When the Torah tells us that the Mashchis was not able
to enter the homes of our ancestors, it was about those Jews who were destined to die of natural causes. Which
is done by the Malach HaMoves – the Angel of Death. On that night however not a
single Jew died. Not even those destined to die naturally. So that the Egyptians
would not be able to say that Jews were dying too - and the plague was not directed
to themselves only. The Beis Halevi adds that there were non firstborn Egyptians that
died that night too. They were killed by the Mashchis.
As we sit in our homes this evening retelling the story of
the Exodus, a different kind of Mashchis will be passing over us. Let us all pray that no more lives will be
taken; those who are ill get well; that we
will soon see an end to this plague; and a return to some semblance of normalcy,
quickly.
Chag Kosher V’Sameach - May all of us have a Kosher and
joyous Pesach.
Here are some past Pesach Dvrei Torah:
