Oppression and Expression     

The galus of Mitzrayim is unique in many ways. Unlike the other galuyos, it does not seem to be a punishment for sins, but rather a prerequisite for Bnei Yisrael to become the nation of Hashem. Although Chazal connect certain shortcomings in Avraham Avinu’s conduct to his children’s descent into Mitzrayim, these links seem to be more of a remez, an allusion, than the main reason. (See Maharal Gevuros Hashem for a detailed explanation.)

The second puzzling aspect of our experience in Mitzrayim is that Bnei Yisrael’s pain and suffering, which we discuss in great detail, were only a symptom of that galus. The underlying cause of the galus is the decree, “Your children will be strangers in a land not theirs,” and “They shall be enslaved to them.”

Both decrees can — and did — cause great suffering, but suffering is not the essence of these two states. By understanding the exact nature of the galus of Mitzrayim, we can understand more precisely the nature of our geulah from Mitzrayim.

To fully comprehend this seminal event of our nationhood and what it means to be Hashem’s nation, let’s first gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be an individual.