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Welcome back to our special mini series on Pisukim from the Musaf prayers. We are on our third pasuk of Zichronot- things that talk about Hashem remembering us. This also comes from Yitziat Mitzrayim, similar to yesterday's pasuk:
וְגַ֣ם ׀ אֲנִ֣י שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי אֶֽת־נַאֲקַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִצְרַ֖יִם מַעֲבִדִ֣ים אֹתָ֑ם וָאֶזְכֹּ֖ר אֶת־בְּרִיתִֽי׃ /I also heard the groans of the Jewish people, that the Egyptians are working them. That caused Me to remember the covenant.
What is the v'gam/ I also heard? Haamek Davar says this was said by Hashem to Moshe, It's not only you, I also heard their crying. which is an important rule, that what starts Hashem listening is when He sees that we also care. Moshe Rabbenu was the one that went out to his people and felt their pain and was, as we call Noseh B'Ohl, he carried the yoke, and that was why he became the redeemer. And by Moshe looking and opening his eyes, he aroused God to look down as well. Thats an important rule- if we want to arouse Hashem's mercy on the Jewish people, we also have to feel their pain. V'gam God comes after us- also, I heard.
What does it mean V'ezkor Et Beriti/ I remembered the covenant? Which Brit are we talking about? Says Rashi, we're going back to the Brit ben Habetarim, where it says, God made a promise to Abraham, that That nation that works them, I will judge.
Ben Yoma on Pirkei Avot (chapter one, Mishnah 15 ) says that there's a concept of, Say a little and do a lot. He says this is not just a trait that human beings are supposed to have. He calls it a heavenly trait, and we see that God taught it to us. How did God teach it to us?
God promised us with two words, Dan Anochi/I will judge. Rav Sadya Gaon says that God said two words. And with these mere two words, how many miracles happened? How many wonders happened? He says, Now imagine the redemption of the future, that many books of prophets written about, all full of promises and comfort. Words by Yeshaya,Yirmiyah, Yecheskel, Tre Aasar, even more sohow wondrous they're going to be! And he says, Think about this and put it to your heart and constantly think to yourself, "What is it going to look like when Hashem comes and redeems us?" And he says, you get great reward from this because of the bitachon. You're relying on Hashem. So when we read this pasuk, we should be thinking that God remembers His covenant. He did it then, and he'll do it now, but in multiple ways.
The Chida, in is sefer P'nai David on Va'era, comments on the words, I heard their groans that the Egyptians are working them. He says the Egyptians went beyond the call of duty in their oppression. Yes, we deserved to go to for 400 years, which God brought down to 210. But we didn't deserve what they were doing to us. That was overdone. And especially from the Egyptians, whom we helped and guided and directed. Where's your gratitude? Where's your Hakarat Hatov? When God sees that corruption, that causes Him to remember us.
This is also important today, when we look around and say, What is going on in the world? Why are they treating us so badly? We're not so bad. The Israeli army is the most moral army in the world! Look how we gave brain surgery to Sinwar, and this is how he treats us? How is God allowing this to happen? And the answer is, this is going to bring the Geula. Because the more corrupt our enemies are and the crueler they are, the faster it causes God to hear our groans and bring Mashiach, even if we don't necessarily deserve it.
Our last explanation of V'gam/I also hear is from Sefer Hasidim in siman 757, which tells us that the angels above can sing songs. But our angels that are there to protect us cannot protect us until we arouse them down here. And that's what it means V'gam Ani Shamati/ I heard them, and I also heard their angels that were coming to defend them. But first, I have to hear you. I must hear your cries first. And after I hear your cries, then I can hear the angels that are there to protect you. And of course, we need our angel working for us. That's the rule. We arouse our angels. There is a famous Halacha brought down from the Yerushalmi, not to sleep on Rosh Hashanah, because whoever sleeps on Rosh Hashanah, his angel sleeps. Why? Can't I just leave it to my angel? No, you empower your angel, and therefore, the better you pray, the better your angel prays. And if you go to sleep, your angel goes to sleep. So that's another explanation of V'gam/Also, I hear you, and I hear your angel, but I hear you first.
That is our third pasuk of Zichronot.