Imrei Emet (Eiger): Shemot

The 22nd of Tevet is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Yehuda Leib Eiger (1816-1888). A grandson of Rav Akiva Eiger, Reb Leibel was born in Warsaw. He learned under Rav Yitzchak Meir Alter, the Chiddushei Harim in Warsaw. At 20, he married and moved to Lublin where he davened at the Shul of the Chozeh. There, he befriended Reb Yisroel, the Chozeh’s son. He then moved to Kotzk. He became a rebbe after the Rebbe of Izbitza passed away in 1854. After his death his son, Rav Avrohom, printed his sefarim Toras Emes and Imrei Emes.

“It is Shabbat and we do not cry out. May a cure speedily come!” Behold the Shabbat day is the source of all salvation, redemption and healing, even when we cannot see it with our eyes.

We find that each step of Moshe’s life brought a new level of redemption to the people of Israel: “The people cried out,” is followed by, “Moshe was the shepherd of his father-in-law’s flocks,” which is the beginning of the story of his mission.

The minute his soul arrived in the world, the light of redemption arrived as well.

The day that he was placed in his box on the Nile, was the day that Pharaoh’s decree of drowning the Jewish babies, ended.

So too, the Shabbat brings stages of salvation, miracles and healing. That is why both Moshe and Shabbat are labeled as “Tov” – good – by the Torah.

Just as Moshe went up to heaven with complete commitment and devotion, so too, on Shabbat we can rise to the greatest heights with our commitment and devotion.