Rabbi Marc D. Rudolph

I was the guest rabbi at Congregation Sons of Zion in Holyoke last Shabbat. I asked those in attendance what they thought was the main purpose of the Exodus from Egypt. Here are a few of the responses I received:

1. To fulfill the promise made to Abraham
2. To demonstrate the power of the God of Israel
3. To lead the Israelites to the Land of Canaan
4. To relieve the Israelites of their suffering

The 13^th Century scholar Ibn Ezra answers the question by citing Exodus 29:46: “And they shall know that I, Adonai, am their God, who brought them out from the land of Egypt that I might abide among them—I, their God Adonai.”

Ibn Ezra picks up on the words “and they shall know“, writing “Its meaning is, then they shall know that the only reason that I took them out of Egypt was so that they would make a sanctuary for Me that I may dwell among them…..“

Indeed, the entire book of Exodus builds to a climax that is at the conclusion of this week’s parsha. The climax of the book is not the parting of the Red Sea, nor is it the giving of the Ten Commandments. The climax comes when, at the conclusion of the Book of Exodus, Moses erects the Mishkan and “The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and the “Kavod” of God, (that is, the Presence of God,) filled the Tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34) This, according to Ibn Ezra, is the ultimate purpose of the Exodus – for the Israelites to make God a home on earth so that God could dwell among them.

Photo: The tabernacle surrounded by an enclosure. Coloured etching after W. Dickes (adapted). Wellcome Images