THEMES of Featured Zohar Articles

In their exile, the Israelites had sunk to the forty-ninth gate of spiritual impurity; there was very little difference between them and the Egyptians. Accordingly, G-d gave them two commandments, the blood of the Paschal lamb and the blood of circumcision, in order that they merit redemption by fulfilling them.

The Sages teach that a person should not wander around outside at a time when the forces of judgment are about in the city. The Jews were obliged to stay at home on the night of Passover in Egypt because the forces of judgment were then unleashed.

The Zohar teaches that the Israelites' enslavement in Egypt served a higher purpose in that it protected the Jewish people. Just as thorns protect the rose, the antipathy of the Egyptians towards the Israelites actually enabled the house of Jacob to grow into an entire nation without becoming assimilated.

Israel did not leave Egypt until the dominion of all Egypt's ministers in the spiritual realm above was broken. Then Israel left their domain, came under the authority of the Holiness above of G-d, and were bound only to Him.

It is an obligation of every person to tell the story of the leaving of Egypt with praise and with joy; this is a mitzva that applies for all time. Every person who rejoices happily in the telling of it will be invited in the future to rejoice with the Divine Presence.