Parashat Vaera- "The Redeemer of Israel"
"The Redeemer of Israel"
Towards the beginning of Parashat Vaera we read God's command to Moshe to convey to Bene Yisrael His promise to free them from the Egyptian bondage that they had endured for over two centuries. In formulating this promise, God employs several different expressions in reference to the people's freedom, including the promise, "Ve'ga'alti Etchem" "I shall redeem you" (6:6). The root "G.A.L." is commonly translated to mean "redeem," and is familiar to us from numerous contexts. We often speak of our anticipation of "Ge'ula" redemption and in our prayer service we describe the Almighty as "Ga'al Yisrael" "He who redeemed Israel" and as "Go'el Yisrael" "He who redeems Israel."
But what does the term "Go'el" really mean? What is the precise definition of "Ge'ula," and to what exactly do we refer when we speak of God as the "Go'el"?
In the Book of Vayikra, the Torah presents laws relevant to a person who has come upon hard times and must sell his property or even himself in order to survive. The Torah writes that when a Jew becomes poor and must sell his land, "His redeemer who is close to him shall come and redeem the sold property of his brother" (Vayikra 25:25). Similarly, in the case of a Jew who had to sell himself as a slave to a non-Jew, the Torah requires that "one of his brethren shall redeem him" (25:48). In this context, the Torah clearly associates the concept of "Ge'ula" "redemption" with kinship. A "Go'el" is somebody "who is close to him," or "one of his brethren" meaning, a person's relative. When a person experiences hardship, his "Go'alim" his relatives bear the responsibility to come to his side and assist as best they can. "Ge'ula" thus refers to an expression of kinship, the devotion, loyalty, concern and commitment that family members and relatives show to one another.
This is the deeper meaning behind our reference to God as our "Go'el." It means that God looks upon us as His "relative," that He cares for and is concerned about us as a person cares for his family members.
During the period of Egyptian bondage, Bene Yisrael felt alone and abandoned. The Egyptians tortured and tormented them, and as has always been the case, to this very day no other nation in the world showed any concern for their plight. God therefore tells Moshe to announce to the Hebrew slaves that "Ve'ga'alti" God will be our "Go'el," He is the relative they so desperately need to rescue them. The concept of "Go'el Yisrael" is that the Jewish people are never truly alone, no matter how isolated we often feel among the other nations of the world. We can always rely on the Almighty as our "Go'el," the relative who will come to our side when we face dire straits.
The concept of "Ge'ula" thus refers to God's immense love for and devotion to Am Yisrael. It means that He will never abandon us, and that He will one day come to our assistance and restore our sovereignty and rights to our land.
This perspective on the term "Ge'ula" should serve as a great source of encouragement during difficult times. We all face times in our lives when we feel alone, helpless or abandoned. At such periods we should remember that we are never without a "Go'el," that God is always capable and prepared to help us out. Just as He is "Ga'al Yisrael" the One who has redeemed Israel in the past so is He the "Go'el Yisrael" the One who continues to support and sustain us, and who remains eternally committed to us as a relative who dedicates himself to assist his brother in crisis.
