At the end of our Parasha it is written:
"It happened on that very day, G‑d took the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt." (Ex. 12:51)

Immediately afterwards, they were given the Mitzvah of wearing tefilin, as it is written,
"And it will be for you a sign on your arm, and for a remembrance between your eyes." (Ex. 13:9,16)

It is well known that the tefilin on the left arm corresponds to the heart, which is on the left side, and the tefilin on the head corresponds to the brain. These two organs are the most important, also from a spiritual aspect; the heart symbolizes the will and desire within the soul of a person. In the brain is the place of thought, which plans how to bring into action those desires which come from the heart. Nothing is done without these two organs being involved at the outset.

When one works for physical, material needs, one's will and thought are unbalanced.

At the beginning of Parashat Vayechi, Rashi explains that when the Children of Israel went down to the Land of Goshen and Jacob passed away, "The eyes and hearts of Israel were closed from the suffering of enslavement." When one works for physical, material needs, one's will and thought are unbalanced and not properly weighted. What was balanced becomes egotistically derived, and thereby, even with regard to their actions, a person is not objective and cannot think of or desire positive things and altruistic actions, since they have become enslaved to the needs of their body. This is the inner meaning of: "We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt." This is the true exile and also the exile of da'at.

Therefore, immediately after the deliverance comes the Mitzvah of tefilin, which corresponds to the heart and brain, as we say in the prayer before placing on the tefilin, "That my brain, heart, and all of my senses be subservient to the His service." This is the true Geula from slavery to freedom, as it is written in the Ten Commandments, in Parashat Va'etchanan, "And you will remember that you were a slave to Pharaoh in Egypt, therefore I command you..." Rashi says, "On this condition I redeemed you, in order that you should keep my commandments." When we are servants to G‑d, who is lofty and exalted above us, we are rooted in true freedom, for even our heart, desire and thought will bring us to do good deeds.

Delivered orally; translated by David Devor from his notes and extensively edited by KabbalaOnline.org staff.

Copyright 2003 by KabbalaOnline.org, a project of Ascent of Safed (//ascentofsafed.com). All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this work or portions thereof, in any form, unless with permission, in writing, from Kabbala Online.