We've all heard it-- we eat the matzah because our ancestors didn't have time for their bread to rise before they left Egypt. But have you ever stopped to think about that? They really couldn't just wait five more minutes for their bread to rise?

The Sages say that at the time of the Exodus, the Jews had sunk to the 49th level of impurity. They were almost irredeemable. And in fact, many of the Israelites-- some estimate even 4/5 of them-- stayed behind in Egypt. But the one quality that caused the Israelites to be redeemed was their ability to cry out. "The Children of Israel groaned from their work and they cried out. Their cry rose up to G-d from the work. G-d heard their moan" (Exodus 2:23-24).

It was this cry, this one spark of faith that showed G-d that they had not given up hope, that they still believed things could be different, which catalyzed the redemption. Those who were not redeemed were those who did not want to leave Egypt-- who wanted to stay within the comfort of what they knew, even if that place wasn't really comfortable at all.

There are times when we feel so stuck, so constricted, so tied in whatever situation we are in. It is easy,  in such a state, to fall into a trap of inertia-- of believing one is stuck that way forever, that there is no possibility for possibility. But the Exodus teaches us that redemption happens in an instant. Redemption is a split second leap of faith, a daring to dream even if it means risk, even if it means drastic change. We must act on it in the moment that it comes. Otherwise, the opportunity will dissipate.


haggadah Section: Motzi-Matzah