The Exodus

The details of the exodus from Egypt, was filled with drama. There was the great excitement of finally being released from bondage after 210 years. The Jewish people left with great haste and did not have time to allow their dough to rise. They ate unleavened bread, known as Matza.

They also fulfilled the promise that Hashem made to Avraham Avinu. They received kind of reparations from the Egyptians, so that they left with great wealth.

They could have taken the short journey to Israel, but were led in a circuitous path by the “clouds of glory,” towards the desert. They even looked as though they were backtracking towards Egypt. This was done for three reasons according to the Alshich. They were not ready to fight a war with the Philistines. It was a way to deflect Pharoah’s pursuit. And it was necessary to go in the direction of the Red Sea, so that the Egyptians would receive their just punishment.

It was necessary that there be one final supernatural event that would demonstrate to the entire world that there was only one true G-d in the world.

The Midrash says that when the Red Sea split, all the waters in the world, also divided. The Kuzari pointed out that it is remarkable that this event of the splitting of the Red Sea, is not disputed by Christians or Muslims.

We remind ourselves of this great event as we recite אז ישיר, in our daily morning prayers.

We officially began as a nation in Egypt when the Hand of G-d was revealed in a glorious fashion. No other religion can make such a claim.