Our story comes from Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Exodus. We’re looking at chapter 17, which delves into the symbolism of the Passover offering. Specifically, it focuses on the instruction to take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in blood.
"You shall take a bunch of [agudat] hyssop," the text reads (Exodus 12:22). Shemot Rabbah interprets this as God saying, "I will render you an association [aguda] for Myself." Think about that for a moment. God chooses us, forms a connection with us, even though we might feel as lowly as the hyssop. As it says in Exodus 19:5, "And you will be My treasure from all the peoples." It’s a beautiful image, isn't it? That even in our perceived insignificance, we are cherished and valued.
But why the blood? "And dip it in the blood that is in the basin." What was so important about protecting the Israelites with blood? Shemot Rabbah tells us that God wanted to evoke the blood of Abraham’s circumcision. It reminds us that the covenant between God and Abraham is a thread that runs through Jewish history, a source of enduring protection.
In fact, according to Ezekiel 16:6, Israel was rescued from Egypt with two bloods: the blood of the paschal offering and the blood of circumcision. The verse states, "I said to you: With your blood, live; I said to you: With your blood, live." As the rabbis understood it, these two acts were fundamental to the Israelite’s redemption.
The hyssop was then used to touch the lintel and doorposts with the blood. "And touch the lintel… and on the two doorposts." According to this midrash, the lintel represented the merit of Abraham, while the doorposts represented the merit of Isaac and Jacob. The actions of the Patriarchs protected their descendants.
Through the merit of our ancestors, God will see the blood "and will not allow the destroyer to come to your houses to smite you," as Exodus 12:23 tells us. This is more than just a historical event. It’s a reminder that we are protected, not just by our own actions, but by the legacy of those who came before us. We are part of a chain, a community, an aguda that stretches back to Abraham and beyond.
As Ginzberg retells this story in Legends of the Jews, these acts of faith and remembrance are what shielded the Israelites from harm.
So, what does this mean for us today? Perhaps it's a reminder that even when we feel small or insignificant, we are part of something much larger than ourselves. We are connected to a rich history, a covenant that stretches back millennia. And just as the blood on the doorposts protected the Israelites, our connection to that history, to our community, and to our faith can offer us protection and strength in the face of whatever challenges we may face.