Nitzavim Vayeilech
ושב ה' אלוקיך Chazal learn from this expression that Hashem
is here with us in Galus, and He will exit together with us when the time
comes.
Maran asked
why do we learn of Hashem's presence in galus from His exit? Why doesn’t the
Torah say that He is with us IN GALLUS instead of us inferring it from His
return?
Maran
answered with a great insight. If the Torah were to say Hashem is with us, we
could never fathom the extant of Hashem's sharing in our pain and burden of
exile. Like one who visits his friend who is an inmate in prison or stuck in a
hospital, the visitor is not truly experiencing the bondage of his friend's
confines because at any moment the visitor is free to leave! No one would say
upon the visitor's exit that he was "discharged" or
"released" because he never was really in prison or the hospital when
he can enjoy his freedom at any time. However, if we were to say that he was
discharger together with the patient, or released together with the convict, it
would be clear that the visitor too, was actually in bondage, fully
experiencing the loss of rights and
freedom.
With the
expression of ושב ה' - we see that Hashem is returning with us from
the same state of bondage and exile! Not just as visitor, but כביכול Hashem is bound in gallus just as we are until we merit
our freedom!
Perhaps we
can add in a similar vein, that this is also the same expression used for
Teshuvah. Some people erroneously view Teshuvah as somewhat of a difficulty, a
hang up, a party spoiler, and something just downright unpleasant. Besides for
this perception being absolutely wrong and against a clear passuk in the Torah
- כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאוד… - it also stems from
an erroneous perception of sin in the first place. If we were to look at our
downfalls and sins as the dark shackles of a horrific dungeon of cptivity in
the merciless hands of our enemy, Yomim Noraim and the opportunity of Teshuvah
would be cause for a grand celebration! An alcoholic's first steps of redemtion
is recognizing that he is trapped! People who look at the coming Days of Awe as
a headache, look at themselves as "visitors" to the deep dungeons of
sin, not inmates. If we had the proper recognition of our sins we would be
dancing for joy knowing that Slichos begins tonight!