לזכות ידיד נפשי וידיד עליון הרה"ג ר' אליעזר זאב בן דבורה וכל בני ביתו
Rabbeinu Yonah writes that we must be like Hashem. Just as Hashem creates the world, so must we:
"מה
הוא ממציא את העולם אף אתה תמציאנו ותקיימנו...."
What on earth [pun intended] does that mean? How are we supposed to create the world??
What does the word ממציא mean? It means to uncover an already existing object. A lost object is called a מציאה. According to the Rambam, Hashem created the world from חומר היולי - primordial matter. He was ממציא the world from this material. He started with Light. Light reveals what is hidden. Our job in the world is to illuminate it, as Hashem did. Meaning, to reveal the true purpose of this world.
The word יצר means the "creation". We create good or evil based on our perspective of the world. Those who are guided by the יצר הרע create a world of falsehood that lasts for only as long as their body is breathing on earth. The moment they are gone - they cease to exist. The Maharal says that gehenom is העדר - the absence of existence. Gehenom is for people who follow their יצר הרע and essentially created a non-reality for themselves.
One who follows his יצר הטוב creates a true reality for him or herself that exists forever. Our job is to being Light and reveal the true reality that constitutes the foundation of existence. In Koheles it says כי הלך אדם אל בית עולמו - A man goes to the world that he created. The Mesilas Yesharim says that a person must clarify for himself מה חובתו בעולמו - what is his obligation in his world. We create our perception of reality and live there.
When we were given the Torah, Hashem said אנכי ה' א-להיך אשר הוצאתיך מארץ מצרים. Everybody asks why He introduces Himself as the redeemer from Egypt and not the Creator of the world. Maybe one answer is that Hashem didn't want ot give us a history lesson or even convey principles of faith but rather tell us how to live our lives, Our purpose in life is to be יוצאי מצרים - People who live according to the true reality, the reality of Hashem and Torah.
When we were given the Torah, Hashem said אנכי ה' א-להיך אשר הוצאתיך מארץ מצרים. Everybody asks why He introduces Himself as the redeemer from Egypt and not the Creator of the world. Maybe one answer is that Hashem didn't want ot give us a history lesson or even convey principles of faith but rather tell us how to live our lives, Our purpose in life is to be יוצאי מצרים - People who live according to the true reality, the reality of Hashem and Torah.
Mitzraim was a place of sheker and the root of all exile. Paroh said [Yechezkel 29] לי יאורי ואני עשיתיני - The river is mine and I created myself. Meaning - I MUST exist. Reality can't exist without me. Everything revolves around MY existence. In Mitzraim, they specialized in כישוף - sorcery, which is a rebellion against Hashem, as Chazal say שמכחישים פמליא של מעלה. Their perception of reality lacked an awareness of Hashem dominion over the world. That is a מציאות of שקר.
We leave Mitzraim twice a day - during Shachris and Maariv when we say אני השם וכו' אשר הוצאתי אתכם מארץ מצרים. This means that we must shape our perception to realize that the only true reality is Hashem. As long as everything revolves around us and our needs - we haven't left Mitzraim.
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