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Haggadah-Beginning of Hallel



The Midrash appends the words, “I am asleep, but my heart is awake,” to the text, “And the angel of God appeared to him in a flame of fire, out of the midst of the Bush (Exodus 3:2).” The explanation is that the Bush was a plant that bore no fruit, thereby symbolizing the person who is bare of mitzvot. Such was Israel before the redemption from Egypt.

 

Yet the Angel of Redemption came to send a Redeemer, Moshe. Why was this? Because potentially Israel was prepared to accept many mitzvot.

Therein lies the meaning of the phrase, “At present I am asleep, and I perform no mitzvot. But my heart is awake and ready to receive the Torah and the mitzvot.” Thus, it can be said that Israel was redeemed because of what Israel was destined to become. (Esser Zachuyot, page 95)

Sing the first two paragraphs of Hallel as a celebration of what we are destined to become.

iPray-iAttach-Amidah-Redemption: “We are prepared for Redemption because of what we are prepared to become.”

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