The Torah tells us that the Jews were in Egypt for 430 years. However, if one makes a simple calculation one can see that from the time our forefather Yaacov descended with his family to Egypt until they left was only 210 years. How do we reconcile this discrepancy?
G-d in His compassion for His nation sped up the process and began counting the years from the time of the prophecy at the Treaty of the Halves, when He informed our forefather Avraham that his descendants would be enslaved in Egypt, a land which is not theirs. This prophecy took place 220 years before Yaacov descended to Egypt. Thus, from the time of the prophecy until the redemption was 430 years.
What did the Jews in Egypt do to merit having their proposed time cut in half?
The commentator, Tzvi L’tzadik explains beautifully: While the Jews were enslaved, not only did they endure their own pain, they also were upset and cried out because of the suffering of their fellow Jews as well. Because they cared and worried about their fellow’s pain, G-d considered it as if the Jews had served more time and therefore He let them out early due to their love and concern for others.
We are still quite unique in so far as having the ability to feel the pain of others and in this merit G-d has a special consideration for us.
When G-d instructed Moshe in the laws regarding the Pascal lamb, the Torah states, “The entire congregation of Israel shall slaughter the lamb in the afternoon.” The Talmud asks the obvious, “Did each of the Israelites actually sacrifice a personal lamb?” To which the Talmud explains, “From here we see the concept that when a Jew appoints a messenger, it like he performed it himself.” Since the one slaughtering was appointed by those participating in the Pascal lamb; it was as if each person actually slaughtered.
The concept of appointing a messenger has limitations. For example, one cannot perform a sin on behalf of another so that it would be considered the sin of the one who sent the messenger. Each person has a personal responsibility to listen to G-d and it overrides any such appointment.
Appointing a messenger is also not applicable when one has certain specific personal obligations to fulfill, for example to appoint someone to observe Shabbos, to eat kosher, or to put on Tefilin on his behalf.
Before the Jews were freed from Egypt they were instructed regarding the Mitzvah of Tefilin. Two out of the four portions scribed on the parchment held within the boxes of Tefilin speak about our servitude and exodus from Egypt.
The Mitzvah of Tefilin has always been precious to Jews, but the devotion and determination to fulfill the Mitzvah of Tefilin under extreme conditions such as the ghettos and slave labors camps is astounding.
Moshe Brachtfeld, a Holocaust survivor, recalled that during all the harrowing years of wanderings and expulsions, he and his brother somehow succeeded in keeping in their possession a pair of Tefilin, and were able to put them on almost every single day.
When they arrived at the labor camp, their pair of Tefilin was confiscated, but they were able to bribe the Polish worker with their bread allotment to get the pair of Tefilin back.
They found a secluded spot where they were able to don their Tefilin and about fifty other Jews came daily to quickly put on the Tefilin, say the prayer of Shema, and remove them.
When they were transferred to a larger camp with two thousand Jews, they had the only pair of Tefilin in the camp. Beginning at 3:00 a.m. five hundred Jews lined up to don the Tefilin, making it impossible for all of them to don the Tefilin before roll call. It was decided that they would each put on only one of the two boxes of Tefilin. Two lines were formed one group waited for the Tefilin which is wrapped on the hand and the other for the Tefilin that is worn on the head.
A number of years ago I attended a dinner for a national organization. An award was given to a Holocaust survivor.
Mr. Gottdiner gave his acceptance speech. His brief comments remained with me ever since. Mr. Gottdiner relayed that he felt that the energy that kept him going through the most horrendous conditions during the war was that he had his Tefilin with him at all times and that he was able to don them each day! He then lifted an old Tefilin bag and showed it the crowd and emotionally said, “Here are my precious Tefilin. I brought them here for you to see what got me through all the years of the war.”
The response was a thunderous and long lasting standing ovation for Mr. Gottdiner’s courage and appreciation for a dear Mitzvah!
