You Left Egypt—But Did Egypt Leave You?

One of Microsoft’s most memorable slogans, launched as part of a major global advertising campaign in the 1990s, was: “Where do you want to go today?”

Its power lay in its appeal to a deep psychological aspiration—the innate human desire to go places, explore, and grow. 

This innate and powerful desire has fueled the extraordinary journey of the Jewish people throughout the ages.

At its essence, any true journey involves encountering something previously unknown or unexperienced. In a simple geographical sense, we travel to discover cultures, people, and ways of life.

But journeys aren’t limited to geography. We embark on intellectual and emotional journeys too—exploring ideas that challenge our assumptions and push us beyond our comfort zones. This is especially true when it comes to changing our behavior or attitudes—transformations that require deep inner effort and growth.

The mystics speak directly to this dimension of journey in a subtle yet profound reading of this week’s Torah portion.

The verse states, “These were the journeys of the children of Israel Israelites who came out of the land of Egypt.”

They ask: why “journeys” in the plural? Surely one journey was enough to leave Egypt. Wouldn’t “journey” have been more accurate?

This deliberate phrasing, they suggest, reveals a deeper truth—especially given that Egypt in Hebrew (Mitzrayim) also means “constraints.” The true journey is not merely physical; it is the ongoing effort to free ourselves from the internal limitations that stifle the soul’s unbounded spirit.

At the heart of this struggle is the tension between two inner forces: the animal soul and the G-dly soul.

The animal soul is self-centered and indulgent. Even its empathy is often self-serving, filtered through instinct and ego.

The G-dly soul, by contrast, naturally empathizes and identifies with others. It is idealistic, purpose-driven, and oriented toward something greater than itself. It doesn’t place the self at the center, but seeks to uplift and add value to others.

Life, then, is a continual journey along the spectrum from selfishness to selflessness. And this is why it takes more than one journey to truly leave “Egypt.” Each day brings a new opportunity to expand our empathy, refine our character, and increase the kindness we bring into the world.