for Parshat Bo
i
Moses says to Pharaoh:
let us leave Egypt
to celebrate to God.
And Pharaoh asks:
Who amongst you will go and celebrate?
Moses says:
Our young, our old, and our flocks will go—
everyone.
Pharaoh says:
if you want to bring everyone
then I will not let anyone go.
*
Egypt has a citizen nation
and a slave nation
and priests who live in a separate land.
How could the king of Egypt
tolerate a communal festival?
ii
Later God tells the people:
When you come to the Land,
then the Levites,
who are the priests,
must live among the rest of the people.
And when you rejoice in all the good that HaShem has given you,
you must rejoice with the Levite.
And you must keep the Sabbath each week
a day of rest
for you and your son and your daughter
and your servant
and your animals:
for everyone.
iii
God does not want Egypt.
God wants us to celebrate to Him
as many people,
together.
_____
Based on the Ramban and a thought of Rabbi Menachem Leibtag
Shabbat Shalom,
Abe
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