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Dear Family,
Our Torah constantly gives us commandments to remind us of the exodus from Egypt. The reason being that our whole religion is based on that event. The basis of Judaism is that we are in a world that has a purpose, and that purpose can be revealed to us only by the one who created the existence for that goal. Pesach is a testimonial to Hashems dominion on the whole world. Furthermore, the holiday makes us recount the story of the Ten Plagues, Hashems way of telling us he watches and punishes those who don't head his word.
The Rabbis of the Midrash point out that each plague corresponded to some mistreatment inflicted on the Jews. Blood because the Jews were not permitted to immerse in purifying Mikve waters. Frogs because they were enslaved to bring the Egyptians little insects to play with. Lice as a result of making the Jews sweep the streets clean of dust so their dust turned into lice. Ferocious animals to punish them for making the Jews hunt animals for their pleasure and benefit. Pestilence as retribution for turning the Jews into their shepherds. Boils was a punishment for making them collect wood to heat their houses so Hashem sent them heat in a different way. Hail and Locust was sent so the Egyptians would not benefit from all the gardens planted and tilled by Jewish slaves. Darkness was to cleanse the Jews from all non believers. The death of the first born was for the slaughter of little Jewish babies as we all know.
We are commanded to recount the story from generation to generation to make sure that these messages are transmitted to our children forever. The Rabbis say Hashem will not repeat a proof of his existence to skeptics from that time on. We shouldn't expect more plagues to befall our oppressors. There is one exception to the rule and that is locust. Until today this plague haunts many area of the world and nothing has been perfected to stop it. In the year 1952 a great plague of locust landed in the land of Israel. Oddly enough these little insects were very selective about where they dined. That year was a Sabbatical year in which the planting and tending of crops is forbidden. Only from settlements that did not keep the Shemita year was the produce devoured wherever the law was followed the locust did not touch or just nibbled.
I want to wish all the family a happy and kosher Pesach
Pesach Alegre
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