A well-known businessman once arranged to have a private audience with the Chasam Sofer. “Rebbe,” he began, “I’m sure you are aware that I am known to be a very wealthy person. But recently business has been difficult and I have lost all of my wealth. Please give me a blessing that my fortune should turn around.” The Chasam Sofer answered, “You have an impoverished brother. Help him and your money will return.” The merchant replied, “Rebbe, as soon as I regain my wealth I will help him generously.”
The Chasam Sofer shook his head, “At the beginning of parshas Va’era when G-d informed Moshe that the commencement of the miraculous redemption was imminent, G-d declared,[7] ‘And also I have heard the groans of Bnei Yisrael whom Egypt enslaves.’ What did G-d mean ‘And also I have heard,’ as if someone else heard first?
“The answer is that when the enslavement became unbearable and there was almost no hope for Bnei Yisrael, they began to help each other. Despite the severity of the oppression when one Jew cried out, another came to his aid, despite his utter exhaustion. When that occurred G-d declared, ‘Just as they have heard each other’s cries, I have heard their cries.’ It was their selflessness that granted them the merit to redemption.
The Chasam Sofer concluded, “I didn’t mean that you should only help him when you are again financially comfortable. You need a merit right now. Help him despite your difficult situation and that will give you the blessing to regain your wealth.”
Tanna D’vei Eliyahu[8] writes, “When Bnei Yisrael were in Egypt, they gathered together and sat together, and they all formulated one group, and they made a covenant together that they would perform kind deeds with each other, and they would preserve in their hearts the covenant of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, and to serve their Father in Heaven alone…”
The Chofetz Chaim explains that when Bnei Yisrael saw that their situation was virtually hopeless from a natural perspective, they decided to make this covenant together. They knew that if they performed acts of kindness with each other G-d would perform kindness with them.
This idea is expressed clearly in the Yerushalmi,[9] “The Holy One, blessed is He, said to Israel, “My son, if you see that the merits of the patriarchs and the merits of the matriarchs have been depleted, go and cling to kindness…”
The Chofetz Chaim explains that this is the meaning of the words that Klal Yisroel recited in their magnificent Song at the Sea,[10] “With Your kindness You guided this people that You redeemed.” It was in the merit of the kindness they performed with each other that G-d redeemed them.
This is also the meaning behind the beautiful words of the Navi,[11] “So says G-d, ‘I recalled for you the kindness of your youth, the love of your nuptials, your following me into the desert, into an unsown land.” It was our kindness that served as the catalyst for G-d’s kindness.
The Navi states, “Behold, I will redeem you – the end as the beginning.” The miracles that we will yet witness with the advent of Moshiach and the process of redemption will in many ways parallel the redemption from Egypt.
At times we may wonder if we possess sufficient merits to be worthy of the ultimate redemption. But there is one area in which Klal Yisroel still excels and is unquestionably worthy – it is in our kindness to and support of each other. One need look no further than at the classified section in the back of this newspaper on any given week where there is a section dedicated to announcing different gemachim (free-loan socieities). There are gemachim for cribs, tables, equipment, tools, and clothing.