Sicha, Shabbos Parshas Shemos 5722
A. How Many Times Did Jacob’s Family Descend to Egypt?
Our Torah portion describes the redemption of the Jewish people from Egypt. (Source 1)
The Alter Rebbe asks why the Torah mentions the Jews’ descent to Egypt twice—once in Parashat Vayigash and again in Parashat Shemot (Sources 2-3). He explains that their descent to Egypt occurred on two levels, which parallels the two stages of ascent from exile: the exodus from Egypt, which has already taken place, and the ultimate redemption, which has yet to occur. (Source 4)
B. The Meaning of the Two Descents
In the Land of Israel, dependence on G-d was tangible: livelihood came from rain from the heavens, granted through prayer. In contrast, in Egypt, livelihood came from the Nile, which naturally overflowed and irrigated the fields, creating an illusion of self-reliance—”My strength and the might of my hand have created this wealth.”
Jacob and his sons experienced a spiritual descent from the high level of divine awareness in the Land of Israel to Egypt, where nature obscures G-dliness.
Descent #1: Jacob and his sons moved from a state where their connection to G-d was openly visible, to a place where nature concealed G-dliness. However, during this initial period, while the tribes were still alive, they still remembered life in the Land of Israel and maintained an awareness that G-d governs nature.
Descent #2: After the last of Jacob’s sons passed away, no one remained to recount life in the Land of Israel or preserve the awareness that G-d governs nature. The Jews no longer “knew Joseph” and ceased living with the awareness that G-d is the true ruler. This led to the rise of a new king who “did not know Joseph.”
C. The Two Descents in a Person’s Spiritual Service
A Jew begins the day with prayer, which is followed by Torah study and then regular daily activities. (Sources 6-7)
During Shema and the Amidah, one feels a deep sense of spirituality and G-d’s presence—this corresponds to the spiritual state of the Land of Israel.
Descent #1: After prayer, when one transitions to Torah study, the sense of spirituality is no longer as vivid, yet it remains in one’s consciousness.
Descent #2: When one finishes studying and enters the mundane world, they may forget about G-d entirely and believe their success is self-earned.
The Lesson:
1. While a person must transition from prayer to daily life, this should be done with the feeling of being “compelled by divine command.”
2. Even during times of spiritual descent, when divine awareness is less evident, faith will ultimately lead to redemption.
