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Question: The Torah states that before departing from Egypt, God instructed that everyone borrow jewelry from their neighbor. How are the Egyptians referred to as ‘neighbors’? Were the Israelites by then mixed with Egyptians in their living arrangements?
Answer: You ask a very good question. The commentary of Chizkuni says that, after suffering a number of plagues, the Egyptians started acting in a more neighbourly manner with the Jews hoping they would be spared any further punishment.
All the Best,
Rabbi Azriel Schreiber
