Why The Pain?

This discourse was taught by the Rebbe in January 1967, on Shabbat Sedra Va'era.  It discusses why there had to be the pain of the slavery in Egypt - which relates also to the pain of other periods of Jewish history. The discourse explains that this was an important aspect of the preparation for the Giving of the Torah, after which through Torah study and observance of Mitzvot the Jewish people have a positive effect on the world. The slavery and the pain purified the Jewish people and the world so that this process could take place. There was a lively discussion of this idea.