Spiritual Gems from the parsha

For I have hardened his heart (Ex. 10:1)

G-d "boasts" of the free will He has given man, one of the greatest mysteries of all creation, and a part of the Divine plan. Only man can take the life-force and blessings he receives from Above and use them in a manner totally contrary to G-d's will.


(Sefat Emet)


We know not with what we must serve G-d, until we reach there (Ex. 10:26)

While we yet live in this world, we cannot accurately assess the value of our Torah learning and our performance of commandments, or even know if they were done only for the sake of heaven. It is only after we have reached the World to Come, the World of Truth, that we will know how faithfully we fulfilled our tasks.


(Chidushai Harim)

This month shall be unto you (Ex. 12:2)

According to Rabbi Yitzchak the Torah should have begun with this verse, and not "In the beginning, G-d created the heavens and the earth." What is so special about this mitzva (commandment), and why doesn't the Torah begin with the words "I am the L-rd thy G-d," a seemingly more fundamental principle of Judaism? The existence of G-d is the basis upon which the observance of Torah and mitzvot is predicated, but the objective of the entire Torah is best expressed in the mitzva of "this month (chodesh) shall be unto you." The purpose of the Jew is to become an active partner in creation (the Hebrew word "chodesh" comes from the word chadash - "new"), transforming the physical world, which seems to be a separate entity, divorced from G-dliness, into yet another expression of holiness.


(Lubavitcher Rebbe)