Bo: 5786 - "And let them ask... for silver vessels and gold vessels." Rashi: So that that righteous one [Avraham] should not say: "And they shall enslave them and afflict them" was fulfilled in them, but "with great wealth" was not fulfilled in them. But…

00:01 Speaker 1 In the weekly parsha, Hakadosh Boruch Hu says to Moshe Rabbeinu: “Please speak to the Children of Israel, and let each man ask his fellow and each woman her fellow for silver and gold vessels.” Rashi says that “please” is an expression of request. Hakadosh Boruch Hu is asking Moshe to please tell the Children of Israel to ask for silver and gold vessels. Why? Rashi says in the name of the Midrash: so that the righteous Avraham would not come to Hakadosh Boruch Hu with a complaint: “You fulfilled ‘They will enslave and afflict them,’ but You did not fulfill ‘Afterward they will leave with great wealth.’” But there’s a question: it says of Hakadosh Boruch Hu, “Blessed is He Who speaks and acts, Who decrees and fulfills.” So what does it mean that He did this so Avraham Avinu wouldn’t complain? If Avraham Avinu didn’t complain, would He not have to fulfill what He said?

00:55 Speaker 2 But He promised.

00:55 Speaker 1 Why say it was so Avraham Avinu wouldn’t complain that He hadn’t fulfilled it? Hakadosh Boruch Hu said they would leave with great wealth, so of course they had to leave with great wealth. I heard an explanation from Rabbi Zevin, a"h, and he gave a very beautiful explanation. The true “great wealth” in “Afterward they will leave with great wealth” is the giving of the Torah. Of the Torah it says that it is worth more than thousands in gold and silver. “It is more precious than fine gold and pearls.” That is the true great wealth: the giving of the Torah. But Avraham Avinu would then have a complaint. What would his complaint be? “You fulfilled ‘They will enslave and afflict them’ for them.” He emphasized the words “for them.” What does that mean? Literally, physically. They worked with mortar and bricks, doing hard labor; their lives were embittered. But “Afterward they will leave with great wealth” was not fulfilled for them in the literal sense. Instead, they received the Torah, which is something spiritual—Hakadosh Boruch Hu’s wisdom. That would be the complaint: “You did not fulfill it for them.” That is why Hakadosh Boruch Hu says “please”—an expression of request—“Please speak to the Children of Israel, and let each man ask his fellow and each woman her fellow for silver and gold vessels.” It was because of that complaint Avraham Avinu might bring. And that is also why, whenever the Rebbe wished people well and gave all kinds of blessings, he would always add that they should be realized below ten handbreadths, literally and physically. Not that they should remain in the spiritual realm; the blessings and abundance should be both physical and spiritual. May we have abundant blessings, with Hashem’s help, both physically and spiritually, and may we hear good news.

02:58 Speaker 2 Amen.