Timeless Torah

This week’s Biblical narrative opens at the low point of Moses’ mission. The messenger of G-d had requested that the Hebrew slaves be freed. Pharaoh’s response was to add oppressive measures. Soon enough, the Jews were complaining. Some were even wishing that Moses had never arrived. Even Moses himself had his doubts.

A strong comeback was needed. No more Mr. Nice Guy. This time around, G-d sent Moses equipped with more than pleas, arming him with the heavy artillery of ten plagues. But those tidings were directed to the Pharaoh. For the disillusioned slaves, Hashem had Moses relay another message, one brimming with promise. “You will know that I am G-d your L-rd, the One who brings you out (hamotzi) from under the burdens of Egypt.”

The present tense of the verb used here “hamotzi - Who brings you out” is awkward. Freedom had not yet occurred! Would not the future tense, “Yotzi -who will bring you out,” make more sense?

The word hamotzi is familiar to most. It is the name of the blessing made before eating bread. Interestingly enough, the tense utilized there is also questionable. Indeed the Talmud (Brachos 38) records a debate regarding this very issue. Rabbi Nechemiah felt that the blessing should read, “Blessed are you...who brought forth (motzi) bread from the earth.”

This phraseology would convey our thanks (in the past tense) for the bread He has already brought forth and is ready to be eaten. The other Sages disagreed. They argued that, “Blessed are you...Who brings forth (hamotzi) bread from the earth,” makes more sense, as it changes the word under discussion from a verb to a noun bursting with significant description.

Let me explain. Rabbi Nechemiah’s reasoning is easy to follow. Hamotzi implies the future. Hence its usage in our verse which talks about G-d’s promise to redeem the Hebrews in the near future. That makes sense. In contrast, the blessing over bread (utilizing the word, motzi) is recited in recognition for the wheat that has already, in the past, been produced. Once again, all proper and accounted for.

The Sages however are not worried about any particular time frame. They agree that the bread on our plate for which we must offer a blessing of thanks has already been grown, harvested, ground, kneaded and baked. They also concede that in the traditional rules of Hebrew grammar, Hamotzi, is used in the present tense. But in our verse, the hard-pressed slaves are not reviewing or anticipating an event. They are remembering that there is Someone in constant charge of all events, to “know that I am G-d ...the One who hamotzi - brings you out.”

At first glance, this innocuous sounding Talmudic argument is focused on nothing more than on a single letter. Do I add the hebrew letter “hei” at the beginning of the word or not? In fact, what is being presented here is a profound philosophical perspective on how to give thanks...Jewishly, I might add.

All too often one hears remarks like, “That was my lucky day” or, “That promotion saved my life.” Similarly, Jewish holidays are often spent recalling the miraculous events of the past, while forgetting the Man Upstairs Who Causes all events.

Rabbi Nechemiah obviously feels that one can intellectually appreciate G-d by looking back at our history or the history of the bread on our table. The Sages wanted something more. “Leaving Egypt” and “eating bread” are opportunities for Hamotzi; an opportunity to look beyond a specific process and reflect on the Source of all activity.

The Motzi perspective creates an impersonal, historical event that occurs once in time, and requires a passing thank you. The Hamotzi view generates a personal bond between us and the eternal L-rd who brings salvation and sustenance on a daily basis, and Who therefore deserves our perpetual gratitude.

So when G-d promised the demoralized Hebrews, “You will know that I am...the One who Hamotzi -brings you out,” He used the present tense. Not because it is technically correct according to the rules of language, but because it is the most accurate way of describing the One to whom all our hopes and prayers are directed each and every day.

Hamotzi then is the appropriate blessing for all times, thanking He who in the past liberated us from Egyptian slavery; He who presently provides us with all of our needs; and He who, in the near future, will send His righteous Redeemer.