Never Despair! Just Dough It - Finding hope in hopeless times

"The Israelites were not only physically enslaved but also spiritually enmeshed in Egyptian culture. Egypt was the epitome of egotism and haughtiness. Of course, we all know that a person who is egotistical actually lacks self-confidence and true self-esteem. His or her haughty airs are really a cover-up, a compensation for a painful sense of inadequacy. Maimonides, the great 12th century philosopher, explains that humanity's lack of self worth was what led to idolatry. The Egyptians and other ancients were unable to fathom that G-d would personally care about them. Therefore, they sought out help from an intermediate power other than G-d. They believed that their lives were guided by the stars because G-d, the Creator, could not personally care about them. They reasoned, "Of what worth are we that the Creator of the world would have any regard for our situation?"

The Exodus story, however, teaches us that this attitude is false. This historic event demonstrated that G-d's love and care for us is unconditional. Therefore, when the Temple stood in Jerusalem, we were obligated to come there and, so to speak, greet G-d face-to-face. Of course, the presence of G-d fills the earth and we are in His presence whether we are in Jerusalem or in New York. However, in Jerusalem that truth was (and still is) more readily experienced. On the holiday of Passover even a simpleton could experience a sudden quantum leap in his spiritual level and enjoy a personal loving relationship with G-d. Each and every one was then able to bask in G-d's loving presence.

The Hebrew word for Egypt is Mitzraim, which also translates as "narrowness." Indeed, Egypt represented the deification of the narrow confines and limitations of nature, time and space. To leave Egypt also meant to leave this narrow and confining attitude. It meant leaving the world of nature, governed by physical laws and subject to logic based on what only the physical senses can perceive, in order to cross-over into a new spiritual worldview — the world without limitations, the world of hope and unconditional love."

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http://jewishworldreview.com/david/aaron_just_dough_it.php3