Bo: 5784 - Rabbi Shimon Zonnenfeld: "Speak now... and let them ask for silver and golden vessels". Rabbi Yannai expounded: so that that righteous one [Avraham] should not say, "and they shall enslave them and afflict them" was fulfilled in them, "and afterward…

00:02 Speaker 1 In the weekly parsha, the Torah tells us that Hakadosh Boruch Hu says to Moshe Rabbeinu: “Please speak in the ears of the people, and let each man ask his fellow and each woman her fellow for silver and gold vessels.” Rashi explains the words “Please speak”: “Please” is an expression of request. Hashem was saying, “I ask this of you, so that the righteous one will not say, ‘He fulfilled “They will enslave and afflict them,” but He did not fulfill “Afterward they will leave with great wealth.”’” This raises a very strong question. Is it only because Avraham Avinu, that righteous one, might come and say that Hashem fulfilled the enslavement and affliction but not the promise of great wealth that Hashem must keep His promise? What if Avraham Avinu makes no such claim? Every day in davening we say, “Blessed is He Who says and does; blessed is He Who decrees and fulfills; Who keeps His promise to Israel.” Hashem made a promise, so He must keep it. What difference does it make whether Avraham Avinu raises an objection? It’s a very strong question, and there are several answers. One answer is that the Jewish people might say, “We’re willing to give up the great wealth. The main thing is, get us out of here now.” Avraham Avinu would then say, “Wait—they may have given it up, but I haven’t. You promised me, and I’m not giving it up.” That’s one answer. Another answer is that the verse says, “Afterward they will leave with great wealth,” but it doesn’t specify how much. What is great wealth? It’s relative to each person. For someone in one situation, a few pennies would be great wealth. For someone else, it would take a few million, right? Avraham Avinu would say, “Great wealth means great wealth by my standards.” Avraham Avinu knew what great wealth was. The verse says, “Avram was very wealthy in livestock and silver.” So when You promised great wealth, that’s according to—

02:19 Speaker 2 My standards.

02:20 Speaker 1 My standards. That’s another answer. There’s a very interesting answer I heard from Rabbi Zevin. He also points to the basis for this in the Midrash. “Afterward they will leave with great wealth”—what is the great wealth Hashem promised the Jewish people? It’s Matan Torah: “When you bring the people out of Egypt, you will serve G-d on this mountain.” That is the true great wealth. We say in Tehillim, “The Torah of Your mouth is better to me than thousands in gold and silver.” “All your desires cannot compare to it.” Nothing is worth more than acquiring Torah. Rashbi says in Pirkei Avos that the crown of Torah rises above them all. So the true great wealth refers to Matan Torah. From that perspective, Hashem fulfilled the promise through Matan Torah. But then Avraham Avinu could come with a claim: He fulfilled “They will enslave and afflict them” literally—with mortar, bricks, and every kind of labor in the field—but He did not fulfill “Afterward they will leave with great wealth” in a material sense. It was fulfilled spiritually, through Torah. That is the claim Avraham Avinu, that righteous one, could make. So Hashem says, “Please speak”—I ask this of you—so that Avraham Avinu will not come and say, “Wait, He didn’t fulfill it for them literally.” And it says, “As in the days of your departure from the land of Egypt, I will show him wonders”—this applies to the future Geulah as well. Hashem will give not only a revelation of G-dliness, when “they will see eye to eye,” but also a time when delicacies will be as plentiful as dust. That means both spiritually and materially.

04:09 Speaker 2 Amen.

04:09 Speaker 1 With Hashem’s help, may it happen very soon.

04:11 Speaker 2 Amen.