Parashat Vayikra BeNissan Nig’alu: The Ongoing Journey of Redemption
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A Gut Chodesh to everyone. I’m in New York, so for me it’s still Rosh Chodesh, while in Europe it is already Beit Nissan. So I’m wishing you all a very good Chodesh. May this be a month of great miracles for the whole of Am Yisrael.
I am sending this message le’ilui nishmat Toibe Miriam bas Rabbi Yechezkel Shalom. It is now nine years since she left us—a wonderful, wonderful person, a source of inspiration, of emunah for us all. And of course, this is also le’ilui nishmat R’ Shlomo ben R’ Yitzchak.
Nissan is a time of tremendous inspiration for us all, because we say:“BeNissan nig’alu avoteinu”—in the month of Nissan, our forefathers were redeemed from Mitzrayim. And “BeNissan atidim le’higa’el”—this remains the month of redemption throughout history.
This means that the geulah of Mitzrayim began in Nissan, but it was not completed. Yes, Bnei Yisrael left Mitzrayim, they crossed the Yam Suf, the Mishkan was built, and they eventually entered Eretz Yisrael. But the process of redemption has continued throughout all generations. Until Mashiach comes, we are still in need of geulah.
Even though we left Mitzrayim, Mashiach has not yet come. Therefore, the redemption that began in Nissan is a process that continues to unfold throughout history.
Chazal teach: what does it mean that BeNissan nig’alu? The month itself was given its name to remind us of what took place in Mitzrayim. Originally, months did not have names—as the Ramban explains. They were simply called the first month, second month, third month. Only later in history—some say during Galut Bavel—names were given, so that even in exile we would remain connected to our past.
The name Nissan comes from the root “nes”—miracle—because this is a month when miracles took place.
When we speak about miracles, there are two types:
Nissim geluyim – open, revealed miracles, like what took place in Mitzraim. Kriyat Yam Suf, the entire world witnessed. It was clear to all that this was divine intervention, without the slightest doubt. Or when there were the 10 makot in Mitzraim, there were some that the sorcerers couldn't do.
Nissim nistarim – hidden miracles, as Rav Dessler explains.
We say in our daily prayers: “veal nisecha she’bechol yom imanu”—for the miracles that are with us every single day.
Think about waking up in the morning with renewed strength, regaining health, functioning normally. R’ Dessler says the sun is rising every day—is that not a tremendous miracle? The Ramban explains that Hashem showed us the great miracles in Mitzrayim so that we would learn to recognize the hidden miracles in our daily lives as we learn in the end of Parshas Bo.
If we truly reflect, the list of daily miracles is endless:Birth of a child, we breathe, we can swallow, see, move and function. These are all nissim nistarim.
So what is special about Nissan?
Chazal teach that in Nissan we are surrounded by miracles even more than the other months of the year, because we have been trained—through the miracles of Mitzrayim—to recognize them.
That is why the Torah says:“HaChodesh hazeh lachem rishon hu lachem lechodshei hashana”—this month is the first and most important of all months.
Zayin Hei has the numerical value of 12.
Nissan is also called Chodesh Aviv—the month of spring. The word Aviv can be broken into:
Av (father)
Yud-Bet (12)
It represents the “father” of the twelve months—it sets the tone for the entire year. We count the regalim from Nisan. The reign of kings always began in the month of Nisan.
This is the month when Hashem gave Am Yisrael the power of sanctifying time—kiddush hachodesh. Until then, Hashem determined time, as we see in the time of the mabul of Noach. But from that point on, “Mekadesh Yisrael ve’hazmanim” You shall sanctify time, you are the ones that decide what to do with each month of the year and Hashem agrees with our decision.
Hashem gave us Shabbat, but we determine when the festivals fall—Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur.
Another special mitzvah of this time is Birkat Ha’Ilanot—the blessing on blossoming trees. We go out, see the fruit trees that are beginning to bloom, and thank Hashem who created a world lacking nothing. He created everything for us to enjoy and for our pleasure.
What is the message of Birkat Ha’Ilanot?
Just as nature is renewed, so too can we renew ourselves. Just as trees blossom after the long, cold months of winter, we too can rebuild spiritually. This is the time Hashem took us out from the 49th degree of impurity. We should never say, “It’s too late, how can we change?” There is always an opportunity to improve our lives.
Now, regarding Pesach:
If Nissan marks the beginning of redemption, our spiritual independence perhaps we should begin telling the story of Yetziat Mitzrayim already from Rosh Chodesh Nissan?
The Torah answers:“Ve’higadeta le’vincha bayom hahu”—you shall educate your children on that day.
Which day? The night of Pesach.
Why specifically then?
Because the mitzvot are in front of us: pesach, matzah, maror, the four cups of wine. Education must be tangible—children learn through what they see and experience.
But then the question arises: why does it say “bayom hahu” (that day) and not “balaila” (that night)?
The answer: The night of Pesach, which was the night of redemption is so full of light and clarity that it is considered like a day.
As it says in Tehillim:“V’layla kayom ya’ir”—the night shines like day.
There are moments in life—like a simcha—when everything feels illuminated, “do you feel surrounded by darkness?". The night of Pesach is such a moment of clarity, where we see Hashem’s hand in history.
Therefore Chazal teaches us this is why we say Hallel at night only on Pesach—something we normally only do during the day.
When we reflect on Yetziat Mitzrayim, we see how Hashem orchestrated everything—from the sale of Yosef to the descent of Yaacov to Egypt, to the slavery, to the redemption—all was prepared by Hakadosh Baruch Hu leading us to receiving the Torah.
And today as well, we must open our eyes and recognize miracles around us.
Even in times that seem dark—“V’layla kayom ya’ir”—there is hidden light.
If we reflect on recent events, we can see many such moments: times of tragedy in Simchat Torah that also revealed emunah and clarity, and moments where clear miracles occurred—events that could have ended in catastrophe but did not. So many found the clarity of emunah, Hashem was clearly guiding things from above.
Purim 2 years ago, 450 missiles were launched from Iran. It was so miraculous! Baruch Hashem, nothing happened. Do we remember the tremendous miracles?
Then the fall of Nasralla, and then the fall of hundreds of Chezbolla , which led to the fall of the Syrian government, and all of a sudden, the connection to Eretz Israel there was no more threat from Syria or Lebanon. When the israeli army had to fly over iran, a 3 hour flight where the airspace if fully open, they drop a bomb a fly immediately back, fly 6 hours without any threat. Do we realize the greatness of such miracles? Tremendous Nes pilots that are returning safely.
Just this evening there was a fall in Haifa, 500 meters from the oil refinery and it wasn’t touched.
These are examples of “al nisecha she’bechol yom imanu”—miracles happening constantly.
We say in our prayers:“Or chadash al Tzion ta’ir”—may a new light shine on Zion.Light means clarity—the ability to recognize Hashem’s hand.
When Bnei Yisrael left Mitzrayim, only 20% actually went out. The other 80% died during the plague of darkness. We are speaking about millions! Hashem didn’t want the Egyptians to see jews burying other jews.
Why? Because they did not want to leave. They were too attached to Egypt and did not recognize Hashem’s intervention.
Even after witnessing miracles for a whole year, they lacked clarity. Blood, all of a sudden the yidden who had been enslaved and humiliated see that they are free, the Egyptians beg them for water. They only get as much as they pay for; not only were they granted liberty, they also have power over the Egyptians. Same thing with the frogs, yet 80% of Klal Israel were too connected to the Egyptian civilization.
When Moshe comes and says the 4 terms of redemption, I'll bring you to the land of the forefathers, they didn’t feel the necessity to leave.
This teaches us: seeing miracles is not enough—we must recognize and internalize them.
When there is an alert and a missile, as the Chofetz Chaim said, even a thunderstorm, why does it happen? Hashem wants to awaken us to call out to Him.
So what must we do to merit miracles?
We have now started Sefer Vayikra. It is called the Book of Purity, as it focuses on korbanot.
When young children reach the age of five and begin learning Torah, they start with Sefer Vayikra. Yavo’u tehorim—let the pure children come—and let them study that which is pure. One might ask: isn’t it too difficult for them? But whatever a child learns first, he does not perceive as difficult.
The Torah begins: Hashem called Moshe. The cloud covered the entire Mishkan, and Moshe did not want to enter the Mishkan that had just been erected, because he was the most humble of all people. But Hashem told him, “You are the one who must enter.”
Moshe wrote the word Vayikra with a small aleph. Some say that the extra ink from the aleph was rubbed onto his forehead, causing it to shine.
So again—what can we do to deserve miracles?
The Torah says:“Adam ki yakriv mikem korban laHashem.”
You are called Adam, but not the nations of the world. The word Adam does not have a plural form, which is why it does not say ish.
The word Adam teaches unity—Am Yisrael is like one being. It also comes from the root adamah (earth), but also from “adameh”—to resemble. Man has the ability to elevate himself and become similar to Hashem by learning from His middot.
To become close to Hashem, we must give something. The korban process purifies a person’s thoughts, speech, and actions. That is why one says vidui, places hands on the head of the animal, and parts of the animal are burned. A person must realize that if Hashem were to judge with full severity, his own life could be taken. Yet Hashem, in His mercy, allows us to atone and to sanctify ourselves.
First, we sanctify our thoughts, which influence our speech, and our speech then impacts our actions.
The Rambam gives a different explanation: people were so accustomed to idol worship that it was impossible to change overnight. Therefore, Hashem allowed them to redirect this inclination toward serving Him through korbanot.
A korban comes from the word karov—to come close. It is a tangible way of becoming closer to Hashem. As the Ramban explains, when a person sins, he needs to do something physical and visible to restore that closeness.
This teaches us that to come closer to Hashem, we must give something up.
Not necessarily physical sacrifices today, but personal ones: giving up desires, habits, and temptations.
However, it should not feel like a loss—it is an investment in growth. It is something positive. Whatever we do for Hashem transforms us into better people.
I would like to end with a story I heard two days ago.
A secular young man decided he wanted to try keeping Shabbat—for just 10 hours, from midnight until 10 a.m.
We know that if Am Yisrael keep two Shabbatot in a row, the geulah would come immediately. Now, in the month of Nissan, is the time to strengthen our Shabbat—bring it in earlier, daven more, and prepare more meaningfully.
This young man told his friends that from midnight to 10 a.m. he would keep Shabbat. They mocked him and tried to dissuade him: “You’re sleeping anyway—what’s the point?”
But he insisted.
That night, as they were out, he told them, “At 11:55 p.m., I’m getting out of the car.” And he did. He sat at a bus stop, turned off his phone at midnight, and remained there for 10 hours.
At 10 a.m., he turned his phone back on and went home.
When he walked in, his mother burst into tears. His friends had been in a fatal car accident shortly after he got out of the car.
What do we learn?
Every effort counts. Even a small step is precious.
May we merit, in this month of Nissan, to see great miracles.
Have a wonderful Shabbos, and all my love from New York.