Ahavat Tzion: Shemot

The 19th of Tevet is the Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Avraham ben Moshe, the author of Ahavat Tzion.  “And these are the names of the Children of Israel who are coming to Egypt.” This verse is the source of the concept that a person must see himself as if he left Egypt: We are all still coming to Egypt, and need God’s help to free us.

One of the reasons that we were punished with affliction that was accompanied by high birthrates, was that the angel sent Hagar back to Sarah and told her, “Return to your mistress and suffer under her hand.” Hagar did return and suffered a miscarriage, but went on to have more children.