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A deeper understanding of Yetzias Mitzrayim

Why do addicts need to start from scratch?

GYE Corp. Monday, 09 April 2012
Part 3/3 (to see other parts of the article, click on the pages at the bottom)

I would just like to add to Boruch's words in the spirit of Pesach. It seems to me that fundamental moral principles of the 12-Steps could be compared (in a sense) to Yetzias Mitzrayim. As we say in the Hagadah:

"Afilu Kulanu Chachamim, Kulanu Nevonim, Kulanu Yodim es Hatorah - Mitzva Aleinu Lesaper Bi'yetziyas Mitzrayim - Even if we are all wise, all understanding and we all know the Torah - we are commanded to tell over the story of our exodus from Egypt".

Why though? If we know it already, why must we repeat it?

Because knowing alone is not enough. We have to LIVE it.

"Chayav adam liros es atzmo ke'ilu HU yatza mi'mitzrayim - one is obligated to view himself as if HE himself left Egypt".

As Boruch wrote above, all the Chachma and Torah won't help us if we don't have the basic foundations. And that is what Yetziyas Mitzrayim is all about. To stop serving the Egyptians. To let go of their servitude and follow Hashem blindly into the dessert. To rely completely on Him and become a mentch once again.

And once we get those strong foundations on the first night of the Seder, we can start to count Seffirah and build ourselves up, step by step, until we finally merit receiving the Torah on Shavuos. And at that point, we finally become the Jewish nation - the nation of Hashem.

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