We Can't Stand Exile
You know my sweetest friends, when we read about leaving Mitzrayim (Egypt) the first thing G-d says is "Vehotzeisi Eschem Mitachas Sivlos Mitzrayim", I will take you out from being able to stand Egypt. "Sivlos Mitzrayim", Sivlos also means to be able to put up with, to tolerate. You see, the first thing about redemption, to get out of exile is that you have to stop liking the exile. Imagine I am in exile but I like it in exile, then nobody can take me out.
At one time I told someone about the holiness and beauty of Yerushalayim, they said to me listen, I'll tell you the truth, I like the Bronx. So what can you do with them? The Messiah will come and give them a free ticket to Israel but they like the Bronx. They will never move, there is nothing you can do.
Do you know what the saddest thing in the world is? Only one fifth left Egypt, one fifth of the Jews left Egypt, they liked it there. I don't have to tell you. In America, after the black man was freed, how many people really wanted to be free, they wanted to go back right away to being a slave, do you know why? Basically, it's the strangest thing in the world.
Everybody talks about freedom, but you know something? It's a very heavy thing to be free.
So the first thing of redemption is that G-d will take you out from being able to stand being in exile, you won't like it anymore. See what happened when Moshe comes to the yidden, they suddenly couldn't stand it anymore. This was the first step of redemption.
I bless you and me that we should hear the footsteps of the ultimate redemption and run towards them!
Good Shabbos!
