As Heard from Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L

“And their outcry went up to G-d from the work.” (2:21)

The purpose for which Hashem had caused Egypt to burden Israel with such intolerable labor was to bring about this outcry. The outcry to Hashem is the great achievement of Mankind. Whether crying out in great happiness and gratitude to Hashem or crying out from distress. The purpose of Life is to gain Awareness of G-d and the outcry to Him is one of the most effective means of achieving this Awareness.

It was not a momentary outcry and not merely an outcry to nowhere, but it was a sustained outcry that continued and increased. And it was directed to G-d, the G-d of their fathers. This achievement of perfection of mind was so immensely important that it is here characterized as going up to G-d. To understand how weighty this achievement was we must look further in the Torah where Hashem gives two reasons for His decision to take action to redeem Israel.

1) “I shall uphold my covenant with them” (i.e., with Abraham, Yitzchak and Jacob)
2) “and also I heard the outcry of the sons of Israel…and I remembered My covenant” (6:4-5).

This great and sustained outcry was the justification for the fulfillment of the Covenant with the Fathers. The merit of this great and constant outcry should therefore be taken as an especial achievement for which the children of Israel gained especial favor in the eyes of Hashem, Who “desires the prayers of the righteous.” (Yevamot 64A)

Why does Hashem desire these prayers? Because these prayers are the Perfection of Awareness of Hashem, for which we are created. And therefore, Hashem desires the Perfection which the righteous gain. Thus the affliction in Egypt was the time of Israel’s chief greatness, for their cry to Hashem gained them such excellence that made them worthy of being redeemed to become Hashem’s people.

Quoted from “A Nation is Born” by Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L

Shabbat Shalom

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