("Let's table the discussion" is a new Adath Israel Shul initiative where a story or thought is presented in order to stimulate exciting and constructive discussion around our Shabbos table or among friends and children.) 

There were two twin boys whose parents loved to dress them in matching outfits all the time.

The boys were good friends and would play together for hours in the fields and on the courts returning home at night to their parents in matching uniforms – just as they left.

One day, as they were heading to the park, a cyclist tripped in front of them and his load, a vat of colored dye, spilled on both outfits. The one closer to the cyclist saw that his clothes were totally ruined and he was quite upset. The other, who had some of the dye speckle his clothes was also upset – not as much at the predicament but rather at his brother’s pain. Secretly he was also happy that whatever happened did not happen to him or his clothes.

Lo and behold, when they returned home, the father saw how upset the first brother was and how ruined his clothes were, and went out and got him brand new clothing. As he was leaving with that son to go to the store, he reminded the other son to carefully scrub his clothing to see if the dye would come out. “The small damage,” the father argued, “was not going to be enough reason to buy you new stuff too.”

The Ben Ish Chai notes that it was the distress of the first son that also served as the basis of his new clothes. The sense of distress brought the sense of urgency from the father.

The same can be said about the Jewish predicament in Mitzrayim as well. While the Jews were comfortable and did not seek out Yeshuah – saving, they did not merit it. When they cried out and remembered Hashem VaYeida Elokim – Hashem knew and put the Geula process in motion.

We do not need to be in dire straits in order to cry out to Hashem and ask him to fulfill his promise of V”shavu Banim L’Gevulam. We merely have to remember to seek out the chance and remember to ask.

What do you do to ask Hashem for the Geulah?

  Let’s  “table” the discussion – by discussing it with our children, spouses, families and guests and open an exciting  discussion into our homes and community.