16 Jan BO: HASHGACHAH PRATIS

The Ramban at the
end of Parashah Bo
writes that the
miracles of yetzias
Mitzrayim proved to
Bnei Yisrael and the
world that (1) Hashem
exists, (2) He knows
what is happening in
the world, and (3) He
leads the world with
hashgachah pratis.
The Ramban writes,
“The wondrous
miracles show that
the world has a
Creator Who created
it from nothing, He knows, directs, and
can do everything. And when miracles
occur as a result of the Navi’s word, that
he quoted in Hashem’s name, it confirms
the truth of nevuah, that Hashem speaks
to His prophets and tells them His will.”
The Teshuas Chein (Va’eira) writes,
“Pharaoh didn’t believe that the world
runs with hashgachah pratis, by Hashem’s
righteous judgment. As the Jewish nation
lived under his rule, they were influenced

by Pharaoh’s philosophy. The sweet
poison of heresy gradually caused the
Yidden to adapt to his way of thinking.
They believed in Hashem, but they said,
‘Hashem is so great and so holy, and His
malachim are holy, it doesn’t make sense
that Hashem will look down into this
lowly world.’ Indeed, the Rambam, in
Moreh Nevuchim, writes that the Jewish
nation in Mitzrayim was confused with
this topic. And the truth is, to some extent,
we haven’t totally rid ourselves of this
tumah. The yetzer hara dances among us
and brings into our hearts the belief that
matters happen by chance. To pull us out
of these doubts, Hashem gave us the
mitzvah to remember yetzias Mitzrayim
every day. The miracles of Yetzias
Mitzrayim remind us that everything
happens by Hashem’s decree. A person
doesn’t stub his toe if it wasn’t so decreed
from Above. Everything that happens to
us is directed by Hashem.”
Two chassidim came to Rebbe Uri of
Strelisk zt’l and told him they wanted to
join his chassidus. Rebbe Uri informed
them that he only accepts chassidim who
believe that everything is b’hashgachah

pratis, and that even where straw falls is
destined by Hashem.
The chassidim said they don’t think
Hashem’s hashgachah is over such minor
details, so they said goodbye and left.
They felt unfortunate that they couldn’t
be counted among his chassidim.
But a couple of days later, they returned
to Rebbe Uri and said, “Now we believe
that even where straw falls, and even the
direction the straw faces, are all
b’hashgachah pratis.”
The Rebbe asked them what caused them
to change their mind. They replied, “If
something drastic would occur in the
world, for example, wild animals would
come out of the forest and harm people,
we would believe that Hashem knows
about it and that it is directed by Hashem.
Something of that magnitude, we
understand, wouldn’t happen by chance.
But then we realized that compared to
Hashem’s greatness, anything that
happens in this world is ultimately small
and unimportant. And if we can
understand that Hashem knows major
events that occur in the world, why
shouldn’t we believe that Hashem knows

and directs even the minor matters of the
world?”
The Maharal (Gevuras Hashem ch.60)
shows how many aspects of the korban
Pesach represent the number One. For
example, it must be (12:5) Ben Shanah,
one year old; (12:46) B’Bayis Echad
Yoachal, eaten in one house; and it is
forbidden to break any of the bones into
two, which means the bones must remain
one. The Maharal (Gevuras Hashem
ch.60) explains this because the korban
Pesach reminds us that everything comes
from the One Hashem. Nothing happens
by itself without Hashem.