By Rabbi Moshe Vosoghi
In this week’s Parsha, we find the Mitzva of Bikkurim. The Torah commands that we bring the first ripened fruits from the seven species to the Bet Hamikdash. Once there, the farmer would read a special passage which also happens to be the main text of the Pesach Haggadah. In this passage, there is a brief description of how we entered Mitzrayim and became slaves.
At a superficial glance, it would seem that the Egyptian populace rose up one day and forcefully enslaved the Jewish people. However, The Ritva (Hagadah D”H Veya’anunu) explains based on a Gemara in Sotah (11), that this was not the case. Rather, the Jews were convinced with arguments to begin working for the country with pay. Pharoah himself was even working during the onset. However, the Egyptians slowly but surely transitioned the Jews from workers into slaves.
One can’t help but to wonder why this whole procession was necessary. Egypt was the superpower of the world. They could easily have used brute force to enslave the Jews. So why bother with this façade? Why not just enslave them from the start? And if they feared a rebellion, why would this process make a difference? Sooner or later the Jews will realize that they are slaves and revolt.
We see clearly from this saga a deep insight into human nature. A sudden drastic change or threat will illicit a response. But when change happens gradually, we become accustomed to it and lose all sensitivity towards the new circumstance.
We often wonder what value there might be in accepting upon ourselves a small Mitzva. 5 minutes of learning, an occasional act of chessed, smiling at our acquaintances…etc. However, we must realize that the ultimate path to effective spiritual growth begins with slight but consistent change.