Reeh 15:15 · unit 1

TT #322 · Parashas Reeh · Sixth Aliyah · Passuk 15:15

The Complete Passuk

וְזָכַרְתָּ֗ כִּ֣י עֶ֤בֶד הָיִ֙יתָ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַֽיִּפְדְּךָ֖ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ עַל־כֵּ֞ן אָנֹכִ֧י מְצַוְּךָ֛ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה הַיּֽוֹם׃

And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt and Hashem your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this thing today.

Chabad.org — 15:15

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei.

Sefaria — Sifrei

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וְזָכַרְתָּ וגו׳ – מַהוּ וְזָכַרְתָּ כִּי עֶבֶד הָיִיתָ, מָה אֲנִי הֶעֱנַקְתִּי וְשִׁנִּיתִי לְךָ אַף אַתָּה הַעֲנֵק וְשַׁנֵּה לוֹ, וּמָה בְּמִצְרַיִם נָתַתִּי לְךָ בְּרֹחַב יָד אַף אַתָּה תֵּן לוֹ בְּרֹחַב יָד.

English: "And you shall remember..." — What is the force of "and you shall remember that you were a slave"? Just as I furnished you liberally and repeated the gift, so you must furnish him liberally and repeat the gift; and just as in Egypt I gave to you with an open hand, so you must give to him with an open hand.

On the daf / in context: The memory of the double enrichment in Egypt (at the Exodus and at the Sea) becomes the model for the master’s obligation toward the departing slave.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Sifrei) — the Egyptian experience models the parting grant.

What Is Learned

Because Hashem furnished Israel liberally and repeatedly when they left Egypt, a master must likewise furnish a departing Hebrew slave liberally and repeatedly.