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Why was the mitzvah (מצוה) of freeing slaves given first in Egypt when it couldn't be fulfilled for decades? The shiur argues that Egypt's primary lesson wasn't appreciation for redemption but developing sensitivity from suffering. The Jerusalem Talmud (תלמוד)'s teaching that violating slave laws caused exile shows that failing to transform personal suffering into compassion for others means missing Egypt's fundamental message.
Rabbi Zweig examines Parshas Shemos 6:13, where God commands Moshe and Aharon regarding the Jewish people. He presents three puzzling questions: Why were Moshe and Aharon only now instructed to lead with patience? Why was the mitzvah (מצוה) of freeing slaves (according to the Jerusalem Talmud (תלמוד)) the first commandment given when it couldn't be practically fulfilled for decades? And why was violating this mitzvah later considered so severe that it caused the exile from Israel? The shiur's central thesis is that suffering serves a deeper purpose beyond creating appreciation for redemption. The primary lesson of the Egyptian experience was to develop sensitivity and empathy toward others who suffer. When people endure hardship, they must internalize the experience to ensure they never inflict similar pain on others. This explains why the mitzvah of freeing slaves was given first—it directly addresses the core lesson of Egyptian bondage.
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Parshas Shemos 6:13
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