"The Great Redemption" (21)

"The Great Redemption" by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto

-- A Discourse on The End of the Exile and the Beginning of the Great Redemption

Translated by Rabbi Yaakov Feldman
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21.

It’s written regarding (our servitude in) Egypt that “G-d will pass through (it) to strike the Egyptians” (Exodus 12:23) as well as “G-d will pass over the door” (Ibid.). (That was so) because Egypt was full of idols and (other) abominations. Holiness couldn’t stay there long, and could only pass through -- indeed, it would leave as soon as it arrived.

Holiness would skip toward the doorways of Jewish houses, hover over it and stay there for a while. When the destroyer would see holiness hovering there it would flee rather than approach. But holiness *skipped* there rather than stay long because of all the impurity there. In fact, it had passed before (the impurities) even knew (it was there), so they couldn’t derive any benefit from it.

But that won’t be so in the future (redemption). For while it was done quickly in Egypt for the above mentioned reasons, it’s said of the future (redemption), “You won’t leave hastily (then), nor go by flight; for G-d will go before you” (Isaiah 52: 12). That is, He’ll *go* rather than (merely) pass through.

It’s also said, “Who is this who comes from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah? He who is glorious in His apparel, marching in the greatness of His strength” (Isaiah 63:1). For the remediation and repair will be great, and (the forces of) impurity will be utterly broken down and forced to prostrate themselves to their Master (then). So it won’t happen suddenly.

But that will come about in the Z'chirah period -- not in the P’kidah period. Because the remediation and repair will not have come in full. That’s why it’s said, “Behold, it comes leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills” (Song of Songs 2:8), referring to the husk’s dark mountains and pitch black hills. For holiness would (only) leap over it, because the Jewish Nation was bound there.

(c) 2005 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman

(Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org )

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