The angel of Hashem, who had been going ahead of the Israelite army, now moved and followed behind them; and the pillar of cloud shifted from in front of them and took up a place behind themExodus 14:19 (The Israel Bible™)וַיִּסַּע מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים הַהֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵי מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֵּלֶךְ מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם וַיִּסַּע עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן מִפְּנֵיהֶם וַיַּעֲמֹד מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶםHear the verse in Hebrewva-yi-SA mal-AKH ha-e-lo-HEEM ha-ho-LAYKH lif-NAY ma-kha-NAY yis-ra-AYL va-YAY-lekh may-a-kha-ray-HEM va-yi-SA a-MUD he-a-NAN mi-p’-nay-HEM va-ya-a-MOD may-a-kha-ray-HEM
Passover: The Festival of Freedom
According to Rashi, a medieval Jewish Biblical scholar, the pillar of cloud that led the Jewish people in the desert during the day moved behind the camp, and obscured the Egyptians’ vision as they progressed in their bloodthirsty pursuit of the Jewish people. The cloud protected Israel as they fled and absorbed the arrows shot by the Egyptians at the fleeing nation. Today, the soldiers of the Israeli Defense Forces are a pillar of defense, shielding Israel from her enemies. May the God of Israel continue to protect His people through His modern-day pillar of defense, just as He did long ago.
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