Hayom Yom 4 Shvat - The spiritual Exodus from Egypt
The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman · Rabbi Yosef Katzman
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Show Notes
מִצְרַיִם הוּא לְשׁוֹן מֵיצָר וּגְבוּל
The word Mitzrayim (Egypt) is related to meitzar (“a constricting boundary”).
גָּלוּת מִצְרַיִם בְּרוּחָנִיּוּת הוּא מַה שֶׁנֶּפֶשׁ הַבַּהֲמִית מַגְבֶּלֶת וּמַסְתֶּרֶת עַל הַנֶּפֶשׁ הָאֱלֹקִית
The spiritual counterpart of the Egyptian exile is the constraint and concealment that the animal soul [imposes] on the G‑dly soul,
עַד שֶׁנֶּפֶשׁ הָאֱלוֹקִית מִתְצַמְצֶמֶת כָּל כַּךְ שֶׁנַּעֲשֶׂה בְּקַטְנוּת וְהֶעְלֵם
to the point that the G‑dly soul becomes diminutive and hidden.
וִיצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם הוּא הֲסָרַת הַמֵּיצָר וְהַגְּבוּל
[Every individual’s] exodus from this personal Egypt involves the removal of these constricting limits,
וְהַיְינוּ דְהַשֵּׂכֶל שֶׁבַּמוֹחַ מֵאִיר בַּלֵב בְּמִדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת בְּפוֹעַל מַמָּשׁ
so that the intellect in the brain shines into the heart, [bringing forth] positive character traits that are tangibly manifest.
Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English