At the beginning of Passover, we told our children:
בַּעֲב֣וּר זֶ֗ה עָשָׂ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ לִ֔י בְּצֵאתִ֖י מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃ …
…because of this, Hashem did for me and took me out of Egypt. -Shemos 13:8
The simple reading is that this is an explanation for the Seder: Hashem took us out of Egypt -> therefore we do the Seder to remember that event.
But upon a more careful read, the Ibn Ezra points out, the verse says the opposite. It says: because of “this” -> Hashem took us out of Egypt. That is, the exodus doesn’t cause “this,” rather “this” causes the Exodus.
“This” always refers to something directly in front of us (as opposed to “that” which is something at a distance). Therefore, some say that the “this” in the verse refers to the mitzvos that we ourselves are observing on Passover.
In other words, Hashem looked into the future and saw all the beautiful deeds the Jewish people would do. The care they would take with His holiday. That they would keep the holiday going for a full week plus to connect to Him. And because of this, He thought it worthwhile to free our ancestors from Egypt.
Hashem knew that you would hold up the torch for the ages. You would embrace Passover. And because of this, all the miracles of the 10 Plagues and the Splitting of the Sea would be well worth it.
Pesach Sameach,
Rabbi A and the JET Team
