Parshat Bo: Embracing Renewal

As we read Parshat Bo, we enter the heart of Shovavim—a spiritually charged period encompassing the parshiot from Shemot through Mishpatim. These weeks commemorate Am Yisrael’s journey from slavery in Egypt to spiritual rebirth. During this time, we are urged to reflect on tahara, kedusha, and especially taharat hamishpacha—the purity and strength of Jewish family life.

The unity and moral integrity of our ancestors preserved the Jewish people in the harshest conditions. These parshiot call on us to strengthen those same values within ourselves, our homes, and our communities.

Memory and Its Purpose: Lessons from Yitziat Mitzrayim

This week, we encounter the powerful directive: "Lema’an tizkor et yom tzeitcha me’eretz Mitzrayim”—to remember the Exodus from Egypt. But what is the purpose of this constant remembering?

The Torah teaches that memory is not merely about recalling the past—it’s about extracting positive meaning from it. The Ramban explains that from the great miracles of the Exodus, we learn that Hashem continuously intervenes in our lives. Memory is meant to strengthen our emunah, to recognize that behind every moment, there is Divine care and orchestration.

The First Mitzvah: Rosh Chodesh and the Power of Renewal

The very first mitzvah given to Bnei Yisrael, while still in Egypt, was hachodesh hazeh lachem—the sanctification of the new moon. Why was this the first commandment?

Because it teaches us two foundational truths:

1. Hope Amid Darkness: Just as the moon disappears into darkness before reemerging in light, so too are we promised renewal. Am Yisrael is likened to the moon—fluctuating but never extinguished. Even in despair, we must remember that rebirth is always possible.

2. The Gift of Time: As slaves, Bnei Yisrael had no autonomy. As free people, the first gift Hashem gave them was the power to mark time. Time, then, is sacred. It’s in our hands to choose how we use it. The Vilna Gaon kept track of every minute of his life, recognizing that each moment holds the potential for holiness.

Spiritual Light: Reflecting the Divine

Like the moon, we do not generate our own light—we reflect Hashem’s. On our own, we may feel insignificant, but when we align with the Divine, we become vessels of His light. Every month brings us a fresh opportunity to reflect more light, grow spiritually, and repair what was broken.

Even if past months were challenging, hachodesh hazeh lachem reminds us not to be held back by past failures. Look forward. Build anew. Let this month be different.

Why Do We Remember Yitziat Mitzrayim Daily?

The Ramban teaches that recalling the Exodus is not to dwell on the suffering, but to remember the miracles. The ten plagues, the splitting of the sea—all were signs of Hashem’s love and involvement.

From nisim geluyim—the open miracles—we’re meant to recognize the nisim nistarim—the hidden ones in our own lives. There is no such thing as coincidence. Hashem is with us in every breath, every moment.

A Story of Hashgacha Pratit and a Father's Love

To illustrate the depth of hashgacha pratit (Divine Providence), we hear a powerful story:

A grieving father loses his wife and struggles to raise six children alone. When his teenage son, David, breaks away from Torah observance and decides to leave Israel, the father pleads with him at the airport, tearfully saying, “I’ll never be able to forgive you.” But David leaves anyway and vanishes into spiritual exile in India.

Years later, David hears that his father passed away. Stricken with guilt, he returns to Israel and visits the Kotel, pouring out his heart to Hashem. As he inserts his note into the wall, it falls out. He picks it up—but mistakenly grabs a different note. Opening it, he's stunned. It’s a note in his father’s handwriting:

"Hashem, my love for my son David is so great. I've long forgiven him with all my heart. Please help him return to me."

It was the sign he needed. Through Hashem's unmistakable hashgacha, David knew he was still loved—by both his father and his Creator.

Living the Lessons of Parshat Bo

This parsha urges us to remember with purpose, to sanctify our time, and to trust that light will return, no matter how dark it seems. The mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh gives us the tools to begin again, to reflect Hashem’s light, and to recognize the daily miracles that surround us.

Let us use this month, and this moment, to reaffirm our connection to Hashem, our commitment to holiness, and our belief in redemption—for ourselves, our families, and all of Am Yisrael.

Audio 2020