And you shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin. Then, reach up and paint the lintel and the two side posts of the door with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out from the door of his house until morning. For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the opening, and will not let the destroyer come into your houses to strike you. (Ex. 12, 22-23) A person should not go out…when the forces of judgment are about…

Rabbi Aba asked, what is the reason for the commandment not to leave the house until the morning? We have learned that Rabbi Yitzchak said (Baba Kama 60b) that a person should not go out to the market place and also not wander around outside at a time when the forces of judgment are about in the city. The reason is that since the permission has been given to the terrorist to strike, whoever happens to meet him will be damaged.

In an uncanny repetition of Modern Hebrew, the Hebrew word for "permission", "reshut", is the same as the PLO enclave. In addition, the same word that the Zohar uses to describe the celestial forces of destruction, "michabel", is also the modern word for "terrorist" - used to describe their suicide bombers! The Zohar's advice is quite clear: Go out as little as possible.

The reason for staying at home on the night of Passover in Egypt was because the forces of judgment were unleashed, therefore, G‑d commanded Israel not to go outside. As the mercy is included in the judgment, the judgment is included in mercy…

Rabbi Yossi said that to the same extent that there was divine judgment upon Egypt, there was also mercy upon Israel. [That is because the sefira of malchut is comprised of both judgment and mercy.] That is why it is written "When I see the blood"; hinting at the judgment on the Egyptians, "I will pass over you"; hinting at the mercy shown to Israel. (Ex. 12:13) We learn that in all the sefirot in the holy higher realms, just as there is judgment, there is mercy, and all at the same time, as the mercy is included in the judgment, the judgment is included in mercy.

Rabbi Chizkiya taught; it is written "And the L-rd shall strike Egypt, He shall strike and heal." (Isaiah 19:22) This means that He struck the first-born Egyptians, and He healed Israel who were still hurting from their circumcision. At the same time that the Egyptians were struck, Israel was healed.

Rabbi Yossi taught: Why is it written that the L-rd passed over the "opening"? (Ex. 12:23) The word used for "opening" [in Hebrew, "petach"] can mean either "doorway" or "opening". Why doesn't the verse simply state that "the L-rd will pass over you"? The verse specifically uses this word for "opening" because it is referring to the actual "opening" in the body - the place of the circumcision which was healed.

Zohar, Shemot p. 38a; translation and commentary by Simcha-Shmuel Treister

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