Beloved Doe

Why did Hashem take us out of Egypt? 

Hashem says to Moses (Exodus 3:12), "I have sent you to take the nation out of Egypt, you shall serve The L-rd on this mountain." 
 
"This mountain" refers to Mount Sinai, and Mount Sinai is symbolic of the Torah, for our forefathers received the Torah on Mount Sinai. In their interpretation of the above passage, our sages teach us that Hashem took us out of Egypt for one reason only – so we can immerse ourselves in Torah, day and night.
 
Sure, we all have free choice. A student has free choice to party in university rather than to apply himself in his studies. But, he'll then flunk out. An employee also has free choice to play around at work rather than to do his job, but he'll soon be fired. A wife and mother has free choice to squander her midday hours on Facebook and in chat forums, but her house will be a mess, her children will be eating junk-food, and her marriage will be in shambles. No one can expect privileges without fulfilling responsibilities. 
 
Our first responsibility as Jews is to devote our lives to Torah. Hashem created the world in such a manner that it only functions at its optimum if a Jew learns Torah and dedicates his life to Torah. Yes, we all have free choice not to do so, but the alternative is a return to slavery just as bitter as bondage in Egypt. 
 
Many a Jew asks, "Why can't I be lawyer or stockbroker who plays tennis in the afternoon and watches DVDs in the evening?" The answer is simple – Hashem created him with a different task in life. A person with a Jewish soul cannot attain perfection or true gratification without Torah. He'll always feel that something is missing and he'll never attain genuine inner peace and satisfaction. A gardener will never be happy as an insurance salesman, no matter how much money he's making.
 
Too bad people don't get to know the Torah. If we can compare a Jewish soul to a young husband, then the Torah is like a gorgeous, faithful young wife. The soul attains a level of ecstasy when it clings in full to the Torah. With this in mind, we can understand the Gemara's remarkable advice (see tractate Eruvin 54b): "If your head aches, go occupy yourself with Torah; if your throat hurts, go learn Torah; if your fingers are arthritic, put your head in Torah; for anything in your body that ails you – learn Torah!" When your soul is intertwined with its true love, it feels no pain. And rest assured, the Gemara's advice really works.

Continue reading Beloved Doe in this week's Passover issue of Breslev Israel web magazine.

Also this week:

Rabbi Shalom Arush: Spiritual Remodeling

Rabbi Nissan Dovid Kivak: Chatzkel and Chaim

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach: Crossing the Red Sea

Racheli Reckles: A Time for Thanks

Natalie Kovan: The Land of the Living

Zev Ballen: The Luncheon

Batya Rosen: The Dawn Will Come

Rivka Levy: The Last Day

Rabbi Erez Moshe Doron: The Ball of Fire, which is the next to the last portion of Warriors of Transcendence

The Beams, Emuna Outreach and Breslev Israel wish you a joyous Passover! May we soon celebrate Passover in our rebuilt holy Temple in Jerusalem, amen.