The Final Word of Exodus We have come a long way. The book of Exodus began with the story of the enslavement of the Jewish people in Egypt, continued with the burning bush, ten plagues, exodus, Sinai, and the final third of the book, the story of the construction of the Mishkan, the temple in the desert. We have come a long way, and we finally expect to read about rest. Yet, the final verses of the book describe not resting but rather journeying: When the cloud rose up from over the Mishkan, the children of Israel set out in all their journeys. But if the cloud did not rise up, they did not set out until the day that it rose. For the cloud of the Lord was upon the Mishkan by day, and there was fire within it at night, before the eyes of the entire house of Israel in all their journeys. (Exodus 40:36-38) In fact, the very last word of the book is “journeys”. The theme of the book of Exodus is redemption. In the very last word of the Book, the Torah explains that the essence of redemption is in fact the drive to journey forward. Redemption is the rejection of Mitzrayim, Hebrew for Egypt, which is etymologically related to the words straights, limitation, and boundary. To be free is to cultivate the desire to keep moving forward, to keep uncovering additional layers of Divine potential within each of our souls. Rashi points out that the Torah refers to the places that the Jewish people camped as “journeys”, since the encampments were all part of the greater journey: Before the eyes of the entire house of Israel in all their journeys. On every journey (מַסָּע) that they were traveling, the cloud would rest in that place where they encamped. The place of their encampment is also called a journey... Since from the place of their encampment they resumed their journeys, they are all called “journeys”. This teaches us a profound lesson. The book of Exodus is no stranger to setback, pain, and suffering. Yet, the word “journeys” reminds us that when we choose to view reality from a state of inner freedom, the "encampment" - the obstacle and challenge - itself is part of the journey of growth. Because “from the place of their encampment they resumed their journeys”, the obstacle itself generates motivation and commitment. The encampment actually intensified the journey to freedom and liberation. Adapted from the teachings of the Rebbe, Likutei Sichos 6, Pekudei 2
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