When we read anthropomorphisms of HaShem in the Torah, we often add, "Of course, HaShem doesn't have a hand or a finger or a face... the Torah just uses those terms to help use appreciate some dimension of how HaShem is interacting with the world." What does that mean?
R' Dessler (in his commentary on the Haggadah) notes that the Egyptian magicians saw the plagues as a manifestation of the finger of Elokim/G-d. We, on the other hand, saw the hand of HaShem. They referred to the interaction as mediated by a finger; whose finger? Elokim/G-d. We referred to the interaction as mediated by the hand; whose hand? HaShem. It's very easy to just skim over those details while racing through "10 miracles in Egypt, so 50 at the sea... which is really 200, or really 250". That's for seder night when we need to keep the children interested and engaged. In truth, though, something quite wonderous has just been revealed to us.
The title Elokim/G-d always refers to physical manifestations of power. That is, the finger of Elokim/G-d is manipulating the physical world they way a scientist manipulates a lab experiment. The scientist can set things in motion, redirect, even introduce new objects; but he is using the laws of nature to carry out the plan he has put into action. So, too, the Egyptian magicians saw this huge supernatural power setting things in motion, redirecting, and even introducing new objects; but always using the laws of nature to carry out the plan He had put into action.
The Jew, on the other hand, see the Hand of HaShem. Not "a supernatural deity", but the one and only Creator. Not mixing in, but wholly and totally controlling every action and movement. The world is in His Hand, and nothing is outside His control.
Why, then, does the author of the Haggadah go on and on about "it's not 10; it's 50, which is 200 or 250"? For this, R' Dessler brings a Zohar: Count the number of words between the first Elokim and the second, you'll find 13 words. These are the 13 attributes of mercy. Count the number of words between the second Elokim and the third, you'll find 5. That's the five dimensions of salvation that come from HaShem. What comes immediately after the third Elokim? The original light that has been hidden away for the world to come.
Explains R' Dessler: HaShem has built a world on kindness and mercy; even the strict trait of justice in only in service of those 13 attributes of mercy. How can you see that? Look at every salvation and contemplate every miraculous dimension. Don't be satisfied with seeing disconnected events (fingers), but work so see the fabric that brings it all together (the hand). That is the most a person can achieve in this world, and prepares him so be able to appreciate that ultimate light hidden away for the righteous for the world to come.
A non-Jewish colleague once told me he was making a project to read the entire Old Testament. I told him that if he wanted and accurate translation, he should get the Art Scroll chumash. He said, "Oh, I can find lots of free translations on line. Anyway, I am sure the nuances in translation differences wouldn't change my understanding." I told him he was right, the quality of the translation is not going to change his life. Nebbich.
R' Dessler (in his commentary on the Haggadah) notes that the Egyptian magicians saw the plagues as a manifestation of the finger of Elokim/G-d. We, on the other hand, saw the hand of HaShem. They referred to the interaction as mediated by a finger; whose finger? Elokim/G-d. We referred to the interaction as mediated by the hand; whose hand? HaShem. It's very easy to just skim over those details while racing through "10 miracles in Egypt, so 50 at the sea... which is really 200, or really 250". That's for seder night when we need to keep the children interested and engaged. In truth, though, something quite wonderous has just been revealed to us.
The title Elokim/G-d always refers to physical manifestations of power. That is, the finger of Elokim/G-d is manipulating the physical world they way a scientist manipulates a lab experiment. The scientist can set things in motion, redirect, even introduce new objects; but he is using the laws of nature to carry out the plan he has put into action. So, too, the Egyptian magicians saw this huge supernatural power setting things in motion, redirecting, and even introducing new objects; but always using the laws of nature to carry out the plan He had put into action.
The Jew, on the other hand, see the Hand of HaShem. Not "a supernatural deity", but the one and only Creator. Not mixing in, but wholly and totally controlling every action and movement. The world is in His Hand, and nothing is outside His control.
Why, then, does the author of the Haggadah go on and on about "it's not 10; it's 50, which is 200 or 250"? For this, R' Dessler brings a Zohar: Count the number of words between the first Elokim and the second, you'll find 13 words. These are the 13 attributes of mercy. Count the number of words between the second Elokim and the third, you'll find 5. That's the five dimensions of salvation that come from HaShem. What comes immediately after the third Elokim? The original light that has been hidden away for the world to come.
Explains R' Dessler: HaShem has built a world on kindness and mercy; even the strict trait of justice in only in service of those 13 attributes of mercy. How can you see that? Look at every salvation and contemplate every miraculous dimension. Don't be satisfied with seeing disconnected events (fingers), but work so see the fabric that brings it all together (the hand). That is the most a person can achieve in this world, and prepares him so be able to appreciate that ultimate light hidden away for the righteous for the world to come.
A non-Jewish colleague once told me he was making a project to read the entire Old Testament. I told him that if he wanted and accurate translation, he should get the Art Scroll chumash. He said, "Oh, I can find lots of free translations on line. Anyway, I am sure the nuances in translation differences wouldn't change my understanding." I told him he was right, the quality of the translation is not going to change his life. Nebbich.
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