Holy Days
Pesach – (Parshat Bo) – Zohar, Exodus Page 38a
Translated and adapted by Mr. Simcha Treister
“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.” (Exodus 12, 22-23).
Rabbi
Aba asked, what is the reason for the commandment not to leave the house until
the morning? We have learnt that Rabbi Yitzchak said (Gemara Baba Kamma
60b), a person should not go out to the
market place and also not wander around outside at a time when the force of Din
(judgement) 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. [Ed. In an uncanny repetition of modern Hebrew the word Permission –
‘Rishut’, is the same as the PLO enclave and the word Terrorist – ‘Michabel’ is
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
judgement were unleashed, therefore, Hashem commanded Israel not to go outside.
Rabbi
Yossi said that to the same extent that there was Divine Judgement on Egypt,
there was also Mercy on Israel. [That is because the sefira of Malchut is
comprised (in balancing portions) of both Judgement and Mercy.] That is why it is written “When I see the
blood”; hinting at the Judgement on the Egyptians, “I will pass over you”;
hinting at the Mercy shown to Israel. (Exodus12, 13). We learn that in all the
sefirot in the Holy higher realms, just as there is Judgement, there is Mercy,
and all at the same time, as the Mercy is included in the Judgement and the
Judgement is included in Mercy.
Rabbi
Chizkiya taught; it is written “And
the Lord shall strike Egypt, He shall strike and heal.” (Isaiah19, 22).
Meaning, 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 Lord passed over the opening? (- Exodus12, 23). The word used is for
opening in hebrew is ‘petach’ which can mean either doorway or opening. Why
doesn’t the verse simply state that ‘the Lord will pass over you’. The verse
uses specifically this word for ‘opening’ because it is referring to the actual
‘opening’ in the body that is the place of the circumcision that was healed.