Swift Redemption
The well-known verse in Shir HaShirim (2:8) states:“Kol Dodi hinei zeh bah, midaleig al he’harim, mikapeitz al hagva’ot”—”Behold, the voice of my Beloved (God) has come, skipping upon the mountains, jumping upon the valleys.”
Rashi explains that this refers to the Redemption from Mitzrayim (Egypt), in which Hashem (God) redeemed us quickly, as if jumping over everything to bring us out as fast as possible.
We can propose an alternate explanation for why the pasuk (verse) describes the Voice of Hashem as skipping over mountains and jumping across valleys.
Redemption Begins in Stages
The Talmud Yerushalmi tells a story of two great tzaddikim, Rabbi Chiya Rabah and Rabbi Shimon ben Chalafta, walking early in the morning in the valley of Arbel Kritzata as the first rays of sun begin to appear. Rabbi Chiya Rabah said to Rabbi Shimon ben Chalafta:
This, my master, is the path to the redemption of Yisrael. Initially, it will come in small steps, but as it progresses, it will grow stronger…
Similarly, when Hashem redeemed Klal Yisrael (the Jewish nation) from Egypt, He did so in stages. At first, they received signs of encouragement from above, such as the miraculous birth of sextuplets (shisha bikeres echad, see Ritva in the Haggadah). Later, they saw Hashem’s Mighty Hand through the makkot. Finally, they were taken out of Mitzrayim and openly witnessed the Glory of Hashem, with a Mighty Hand and an outstretched Arm.
Encouragement for Every Jew
Similarly, when Hashem brings us out of this final exile, He will offer encouragement along the way. Among the Jewish nation, some are on high spiritual levels, like towering mountains. Others may feel spiritually weak, like low valleys. Yet, Hashem will move from one Jew to another, giving each the encouragement needed to get ready for the final Redemption.
Thus, the Kol Dodi, the Voice of Hashem, will jump from one mountain to the next, strengthening those on high spiritual levels, and leap from one valley to the next, lifting up those who need extra encouragement in their spiritual efforts.
The Promise of Complete Redemption
And finally, complete redemption will come upon all of us in its full glory, swiftly in our days, Amein!
By Rabbi Usher Smith
The book Birth of a Nation on the Haggadah, written by this author, is now available in Jewish book stores or directly from the distributor at Feldheim.com.
