Stress just isn't great for the human body and spirit. Common physical effects can include changes in eating or sleeping patterns, weakness, dizziness and even increased susceptibility to infection. Emotional manifestations will not be pleasant either. Stress creates a proclivity towards hostile or angry feelings, increased nervousness, anxiety and even depression. However, we find in this week's Torah portion one further debility brought on by a stress-induced environment.

The Jewish people have been enslaved for over two centuries. Persecution and physical abuse has increased to such a degree that our people were literally breathless. Suddenly, out of the smoke appears Moses the redeemer. Carrying with him the word of God, he informs the Jewish nation that their woes have ended and that redemption is at hand. This should have been a time of jubilation and elation. Yet the verse tells us that they couldn't hear the words of liberty coming out of Moses's mouth. The great stresses of the Israelites, the hard work and forced labour, had resulted in the ultimate tragedy - the loss of hope.

This therefore is the unsung Dayeinu ("It would have been enough for us") of the Seder night. The Exodus from Egypt gave our people back hope and each annual Passover experience should in truth be accompanied with the refrain "Thank you, God, for giving us hope".

This perhaps is something to hold on to when we experience our own dark days. Stresses in life are inevitable but it is comforting to have hope. To feel that right around the corner may come our own personal redemption, which can bring us out from slavery to freedom and from darkness into light.