Partners in Prayer 3 months ago
We have captives taken in terrible danger, Hashem, and that means it is also Kenesses Yisrael that has been taken captive and in terrible danger.
There is no greater Mitzvah in all of the Torah, for a captive is among those who are hungry, thirsty, and unclothed and he is in mortal peril.[1]
We are taught that Hashem does not move His Love from Kenesses Yisrael.[2]
The Yismach Moshe offers insight into captivity, based on the following verse.
וְכִי־יִמְכֹּר אִישׁ אֶת־בִּתּוֹ לְאָמָה לֹא תֵצֵא כְּצֵאת הָעֲבָדִים, When a man sells a daughter as a slave, she shall not go free as other slaves do.[3]
The Yismach Moshe says that the word אִישׁ, man [parent], is referring to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. As Hashem is called, ה’ איש מלחמה, Hashem is [Man of war] a Warrior.[4]
The daughter in this verse is referring to Kenesses Yisrael.
כִּי־לִי בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲבָדִים עֲבָדַי , For it is to Me that the Israelites are servants: they are My servants.[5]
If she proves to be displeasing to her master, who designated her for himself, he must let her be redeemed; he shall not have the right to sell her to outsiders, since he has dealt deceitfully with her.[6]
The Redeemer according to the Yismach Moshe is Hashem Yisborach. We are also taught that Hashem keeps all the Mitzvos, and as mentioned earlier, the Mitzvah of פדיון שבויים, is the greatest of all Mitzvos! The redemption of Knesses Yisrael can only be done through You, Hashem.
As it says:
בְמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין אֲנָשִׁים, הִשְׁתַּדֵּל לִהְיוֹת אִישׁ, In a place where there are no men, strive to be a man.[7]
People cannot, therefore, Hashem, הִשְׁתַּדֵּל לִהְיוֹת אִישׁ, As You are איש מלחמה, Warrior. We need Your redemption, Now.
וְאִם לֹא עַכְשָׁיו, אֵימָתָי , And if not now, when?[8]
[1] Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Matanos Aniyim, 8:10
[2] Shemos Rabba, 52:5
[3] Shemos, 21:7
[4] Shemos, 15:3
[5] Vayikra, 25:55
[6] Shemos, 21:8
[7] Pirkei Avos, 2:5
[8] Pirkei Avos, 1:14
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Michal
intomeaning
Neil Wernick