And I shall take you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. This word sivlot means oppressive burdens. Yet this same word also means patience . . . It also implies the ability to tolerate, to bear pain patiently. The famous Chassidic master, the Gerer Rebbe, says that what the Torah is telling us here is that God promised to liberate the Jewish people not only from the burden of Egypt, but also to take us away from the patience with which we bore the oppressive yoke of slavery.
Patience is a great virtue if used in the right circumstances.
It can, however, be the opposite. The ability of the Jews to patiently accept the abuse of the Egyptians had to come to an end for this people to truly be free. And what was true then is equally true today. The truth of the matter is, Ehud Barak and Yossi Beilin and Yossi Sarid and Shlomo ben-Ami and all the others who have negotiated with the Palestinians are, in a sense, to be admired for the incredible patience they ve had with the Palestinians. They remain unruffled, unperturbed, because they so want peace.