The opening parshiot of Sefer Shmot/Exodus understandably deal with the Exodus from Egypt. But many mistakenly see this as only theological (what G-d did for us) and historical (so we celebrate Pesach), without realizing the practical ramifications today.
One of the goals of most religions is “Imitateo Dei”, emulating G-d. In Judaism as well, an essential aspect of life is that we were created b’Tzelem Elokim (Breishit 1, 27), literally: to photocopy Hashem (obviously His actions, not “Him”!), to try and act G-dly. “Tzel” means shadow, and just as my shadow isn’t me, so too we clearly are not G-d but rather copy His actions. The Sefer HaIkarim’s (2, 30) classic quote: “If I could know G-d, I would be Him”, refers explicitly to our inability to know Hashem Himself, but he continues there, but we can (!) know His actions and must copy them.
Just as a counterfeit coin could be “close” to the original, so too the way to get “close” to a G-d Who has no body, is by being similar to Him. Accordingly, the mitzvot are Hashem’s guide for us to be like Him: He created the world and immediately commanded Adam: “pru u’R’vu”- have children and you too create worlds. On the first Shabbat the Torah tell us that He rested, not for historic trivia, but that we should understand that it’s the G-dly thing to do and worth emulating.
Rav Kook (Midot HaReiya, Dveykut 1-2) explains that this is the purpose of listing Hashem’s 13 Traits (Shmot 33,13 and 34, 6-7), as well as Kabbala which is mostly based upon the “10 Sefirot”, and the many Names of G-d, which are all descriptions of His traits, in order to define what we are meant to copy! The Rambam (Guide for the Perplexed 1, 54), writes that also rationally, this is exactly the goal of Judaism.
When we read that G-d took us out of bondage, the main point for us today is to think and do everything possible to take our sisters and brothers out of captivity in Gaza: through military pressure, political means, prayer and joining the IDF, which is what Hashem did for us in Egypt, and today, clearly wants us to copy Him and do these eternal objective ideals/mitzvot, as well.
For those who have yet to make aliya- that’s the continuation of the G-dly and Jewish Exodus in this week’s parsha: “והוצאתי.. והבאתי אתכם אל הארץ” “And I took you out (of Egypt)… and brought you to the Land of Israel” (Shmot 6). Just like we spent years demonstrating (and miraculously bezH succeeding!) to bring our Russian brothers to Israel, we could and should also DO Exodus, redeeming ourselves and Israel by also bringing OURSELVES Home! “ופדויי ה’ ישובון ובאו ציון ברינה”, “And the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and they shall come to Zion with joy!” (Yishayau 51, 11). Shabbat Shalom! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)