The Expressions of Redemption

Exodus 6:6-7 presents us with the “Four Expressions of Redemption” that we recall every year on the Seder night. The Rambam (Hilchot Chametz U’Matzah 8:10) says that one is allowed to have a fifth cup of wine to recite on “The great Hallel”. The Mishna Berura (480:10) explains that this additional, fifth cup is called “The Cup Of Eliyahu” and is commonly parallelled with the “Fifth Expression of Redemption”. It represents that just like we were freed from Egypt, so too HaShem will redeem us in the future and send us Eliyahu Hanavi. 

Something interesting about the way that the expressions are written in the Torah catches the eye upon further inspection. Between the first four Expressions there is only a short explanation: Exodus 6:6 says “I will free you (והוצאתי) from the labors of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you (וגאלתי) with an outstretched arm and through extraordinary chastisements.” Exodus 6:7 continues: “And I will take you (ולקחתי) to be My people.”However, between the Fourth and Fifth Expressions, there is a seemingly extra statement, “…and I will be your God. And you shall know that I, HaShem, am your God who freed you from the labors of the Egyptians. I will bring you (והבאתי) into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession, I am HaShem.” (Exodus 6:7-8) What is the significance of the seemingly extra statement between the Fourth and Fifth Expressions, ולקחתי and והבאתי? 

 The Or HaChayim offers an interesting explanation. We know that HaShem never breaks a promise, yet most of the people that He promised to bring to the Land of Israel died in the desert, due to the Sin of the Spies! How can this be? He explains that the we must look back at that extra statement after  ״ולקחתי״, the fourth expression, and understand it as conditions to achieve ״והבאתי״ the fifth. If the Jews in Egypt recognize that HaShem is the One who took them out of Egypt and realize that He is the Merciful God, then they will be able to enter the Land of Israel. Unfortunately, the Jews’ lack of faith in HaShem in the desert showed HaShem that they failed to fulfill the conditions, and were therefore unworthy to enter the Land of Israel, and subsequently deferring the privilege to the next generation. 

I think that, unfortunately, this explanation by the Or HaChayim is relevant to us today, pointing to the struggles many of our fellow Jews face in making it to Israel. Perhaps there needs to be a significant increase of our faith in HaShem. This is the only way to meet the conditions that are written in Exodus 6:7. Unfortunately, I have heard many reasons from my Jewish brethren why they are resistant to making Aliyah. “It’s harder to make a living in Israel”,“What if my kids go off the Derech in Israel?” “ I don’t know the language/culture” or “I can make more money in America/Canada/ England/Australia/South Africa”, are some of the startling and naive reasons that I’ve heard. While I can understand these reasons can seem intimidating from the outside, B”H I personally became a more serious learner after the army, and many of my friends did as well. Additionally, HaShem knows the conversion rate of any currency to Shekel, and could easily give one the same salary in Israel. 

At the end of the day, although making Aliyah is an important and life-changing decision, one who tries their best and has faith in HaShem will surely be able to establish a meaningful life here in Israel. As the Zohar says in Sefer Bamidbar “Joy is only found when Israel is in its Holy Land.” HaRav Tzvi Yehuda Kook explains the verse “And in this matter, you did not believe in the Lord your God (Devarim 1:32),” that the nation of Israel did not have Emunah in HaShem regarding making Aliyah to Eretz Yisrael.  Let us internalize the words of the Or HaChayim, and hold up our end of the deal, allowing ourselves to be able to receive blessings from HaShem, and merit to inherit the Land of Israel.