Chizuk and Idud

Chizuk & Idud - Parashat Va'Eira

We are all familiar with the ARBA’A LESHONOS SHEL GEULA, the four expressions of redemption mentioned in the beginning of the Sedra. Firstly, VIHOTSAYSI , “I will take you out” - the first phase of redemption is the extraction of the Jewish people from a foreign culture. Secondly, V’HITZAL- TI eschem mei’avodosom, “I will save you from their servitude.”  The second phase is being able to be productive and work for our own needs and purposes and not foreign interests.  Thirdly, V’GO’ALTI eschem, “I will redeem you” - The third phase is that we will not be subservient to a foreign power but be free to plot our own future and destiny. And lastly, V’LAKACHTI eschem li l’am, “I will take you to be my nation, the fourth phase is that we will receive the Torah that will guide us in charting our mission and destiny in our own unique and holy manner,dictated by Hashem. Corresponding to these four expressions, the Rabbis instituted the four cups of wine at the Seder. The positioning of the cups hint to the phase of redemption to which they correspond. The first cup is Kiddush - hinting to our sanctification and separation from the nations. The second cup is drunk at the culmination of Magid over the matza and before we eat the meal,hinting to our ability to attend to our own needs. The third cup is bentching, a thank you to Hashem for our ability to be free and able to use our energy for Torah bris, the Davidic dynasty and the Temple. The fourth cup is over the Hallel - which is our link to Hashem through Torah.

However, there is a fifth phrase that is not incorporated as a fifth cup and that is V’HEIVEISI eschem el haaretz, “I will bring you into the land”. This is the culmination of the redemption. Why is it not commemorated with a cup of wine? Perhaps the answer lies in the words of the S’forno. The S’forno points out that in fact there is yet a sixth phrase in these verses, following “and I will take you as my people” and preceding “I will bring you into the land”, the Torah says, “VIDATEM ki ani Hashem” - “And you will know that I am Hashem who took you out of Mitzrayim”. The S’forno says that this means that you must contemplate and ponder these phases of redemption and integrate and internalize their meaning so that they will become ingrained within you and become part of your very essence. This is the meaning of “yedia”, a deep intimate bond with that which one perceives, established through deep contemplation. When this will happen, then I will bring you into the Land, for then the Land of Israel will serve its purpose to provide the environment needed to enhance a nation that is uniquely similar to the qualities of the land. As the Rabbis tell us, Hakadosh Boruch Hu measured all lands and found no land more fitting to the Jewish people than Eretz Yisroel and no people more fitting to the Land of Israel than the Jewish people. We are a holy nation with special Divine Providence and this is a holy land with special Divine Providence. Hence, the land will provide and enhance all of the qualities that the Jewish people are supposed to internalize through their redemption. The land will provide the insulation and distance from foreign cultures; it will provide a fertile foundation to build a holy society through our own labor, it will provide the opportunity to create our own kingdom and independence from foreign powers and lastly, it will be the place where the Torah can be fully observed.

But since we did not ponder these points and didn’t internalize their message, that generation did not enter Eretz Yisroel and the entrance of the land was not a natural result and continuation of the redemption. Subsequently, even after entering the land, we were eventually exiled from it twice until this very day. Hence, the phrase “V’HEIVEISI eschem el ha’aretz”, “I will bring you into the land” is not a continuation directly of the first four phases and therefore the fifth cup was not instituted.

Now that Hashem has in His great kindness enabled us to once again begin to settle the land of Israel, it behooves us to ponder and contemplate what our essence is as a free people and the true purpose the Land of Israel plays in enhancing that essence, so that we can merit our final redemption and settle in the land forever and finally drink the fifth cup.

TORAH THOUGHTS as contributed by Aloh Naaleh members for publication in the Orthodox Union’s ‘Torah Insights’, a weekly Torah publication on Parshat HaShavu’a

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