The Egyptian Harlot

Author:

Rabbi Schusterman

Date:

January 31, 2025

Tags:

Challenges, Faith, Freedom, identity, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Loving-Kindness, Rebuilding, Relationships

The Zohar tells of a harlot hired by the King to tempt the Prince into immoral behavior. The Prince is being challenged to withstand the temptation to demonstrate his moral worthiness of leading.

The harlot who is a loyal subject of the king is going to do her job as best as possible. But in her heart of hearts she hopes the Prince will withstand the temptation. She too loves the king and knows that he will be happy if the prince passes the test.

The Zohar teaches that this is the inner journey that each of us navigate. We have a body with its needs, desires and temptations. Some normal and healthy and some born of traumas and perversions for the most part not of our own doing or choosing.

This inner journey is what Egypt and the slavery of our People is all about. Then and in these days. Knowing that the temptation is a set up by the King turns the light on the darkness we experience. When the darkness is illuminated we are empowered to learn from it, to move from it and to be stronger because of it.

When we are able to say “game up”, we have experienced the Exodus from Egypt.

The Exodus is not only when we encounter very dark places, but even simple bodily functions and needs are all a form of Egypt and recognizing it and embracing it in the service of Hashem is experiencing the Exodus.

The next time you feel challenged simply or profoundly remember this message. Your body is telling you to look for the King – the King of Kings – messaging contained therein

Good Shabbos!

Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman

Ps. This idea is reflected powerfully in this teaching from the Rebbe in Hayom Yom:

From my father’s sichot: Exodus from Egypt means leaving limitations and bounds, and Chassidus is to enable man to leave the restrictions of the material world.

There is a difference: The Egyptian Exodus means shattering and then departure, which is why they went away from Egypt. The Chassidic exodus means purification and correction, stepping out of worldly limitations and bounds while remaining in the world. This means, while functioning within the world we must transcend its limitations.We are to remove the limitations and bounds, and perceive the truth – that the world per se is truly good, since, after all, the natural world is what G‑d intended. This is attained through the avoda of Chassidus.

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