In Parshat Massei, the Torah lists 42 journeys the Israelites made after leaving Egypt. But only the first journey actually took them out of Egypt, so why does the Torah frame them all as part of the Exodus?
Torah sources teach us that “Mitzrayim” (Egypt) also means narrowness or confinement. Leaving Egypt isn’t just one physical event. It’s a repeated spiritual experience. Every time we grow, release, or return to presence, we’re leaving Egypt again.
Emotional Confinement Is Part of the Path
Our own “Egypt” might be overwhelm, hesitation, or the discomfort of being stretched. Even relaxation, when clung to too tightly, can quietly become a place we stop growing. The Baal Shem Tov taught that each person travels 42 soul journeys in life, mirroring the path of the Israelites.
Growth comes in phases. What felt expansive yesterday might feel limiting today. That’s not a failure. It’s movement. Healing unfolds layer by layer.
What Movement Really Means
There are two common traps: thinking we’ve arrived, or fearing we’ll never get anywhere. But meaningful progress isn’t about perfection. It’s about direction.
Even the smallest step forward is a form of spiritual liberation. The Torah reminds us that each move out of a stuck place is sacred.
Why the Three Weeks Matter
This Torah portion is always read during the Three Weeks, a period of reflection between sadness and rebuilding. Chassidus teaches that inside loss, healing begins. Redemption doesn’t wait for everything to be fixed. It starts from within the struggle.
The 42 journeys remind us to keep going. Every small step matters, even when the way forward isn’t clear..
Your Spiritual Journey
Whether you feel stuck or inspired, each shift counts. Leaving Egypt isn’t something we did once. It’s something we do again and again.
Noticing your tension (or passiveness) and responding with care… that’s the first step out of Egypt.
Further Study & Source Links
• 42 Journeys of the Soul – Chabad.org
• The Symbolism of Mitzrayim – Etz Hayim
