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Exiled Understanding

The neck is the place of forgetfulness

From the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov

The cause of the Egyptian exile was that they did not know what they lacked1 as is explained in the writings of the Arizal; for in the Egyptian exile, [their] da'at left them. Thus, the verse says about Moses (at the burning bush), "And G‑d saw that he turned to see". (Ex. 3:4)

Thus, they were in exile under the rule of Pharaoh, who is the aspect of the neck, which is the place of forgetfulness.2 Pharaoh said, "I do not know G‑d," which is the opposite of da'at. [The exile continued] until the aspect of Moses was revealed in the world, the aspect of da'at. Then, "the king of Egypt died" (ibid. 2:23) which is Pharaoh, the neck.

Forgetfulness was lifted, and the aspect of da'at came into the world.

Forgetfulness was lifted, and the aspect of da'at came into the world. Then they realized their shortcomings, and "The children of Israel cried out from their labor". (ibid.) They realized that they were lacking in the service of G‑d. "And their cries rose to G‑d from their labor." All of this was because of Moses: "And Moses was a shepherd".3 (ibid.)

Therefore, since the essence of the Egyptian exile was the removal of da'at, which was a spiritual exile, the aspect of forgetfulness and their inability to recognize their own shortcomings, it also became a physical exile. This is not true of one who recognizes his own shortcomings by means of da'at. For then, he can repent and fix what he lacks, and speed the final redemption.

[From Toldos Yaakov Yosef, Pekudei; translation and commentary by Rabbi Eliezer Shore; first posted on //baalshemtov.com.]

Footnotes

The recognition of one's faults is the first step in coming to deliverance, since one can then cry out to G‑d over what one is lacking. This is a common theme in the writings of R. Yaakov Yitzchok of Polnoye.

The root letters of the word Pharaoh, pei-reish-ayin-hei, also constitute the letters ofspelled backwards, yields the word ha’oref, "the neck". In Kabbalah, the face always corresponds to that which gives illumination. The Hebrew word for face, panim, is the same as the word for "interiority," penim, for the face reveals the soul. The "back" always represents that which conceals, for little can be discerned by seeing someone's back. Based upon the coordinates of the sefirot and the human body, Da'at corresponds to the throat, for the throat is the passageway that unites the mind and the heart — a function of da'at. Moses corresponds to da'at, the throat, and illumination, whereas Pharaoh corresponds to the back of the neck, exile and concealment. (Thus, according to the Midrash, Pharaoh sought to cut off Moses' head.)

Moses was the aspect of da'at, and when he came to redeem the Israelites, he invested them with da'at as well.

From the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov

Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov [“Master of the Good Name”], 1698–1760. A unique and seminal figure in Jewish history, revealed the chassidic movement, and his own identity as an exceptionally holy person, on his 36th birthday, 18 Elul 1734. He passed away on the festival of Shavuot in 1760. He wrote no books, although many contain his teachings. (Also referred to as “the BeShT,” from an acronym of Baal Shem Tov.)

Rabbi Eliezer Shore, the translator, studied in yeshivot in New York and Israel for many years. He currently lives in Jerusalem, where he is a writer, storyteller, and Torah teacher.

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