Category — Holidays

Kabbalah teaches that the Matzah we eat on the first night of Pesach is food of faith, and on the second night it’s food of healing.

How about we take it a step further and say that the whole Seder process follows those same themes?

Let us say that night # 1 is a 15 step process of spiritual growth – soul steps. And night # 2 follows with fifteen steps of physical, psychological and relationship growth – body steps.

So, even though we say the exact same words and do the same actions on both nights; they are two different journeys altogether.

Night 1 - Soul

Kadesh: Kiddush comes from the Hebrew word ‘Kadosh’ holy. The first step in tapping into our soul power is to realize that our soul is a piece of G-d, and that we have G-dly power to achieve anything we set our mind on.

Urchatz: When journeying toward holiness we must first remove all the dirt and filth of sin and impurity.

Karpas: A few tears of remorse for the times we didn’t do what pleases G-d are a vital step of repentance and growth.

Yachatz: There is no grey area between what G-d wants and that which is against His will. The grayness and lack of clarity between good and evil is broken, for the two just cannot mix.

Maggid: ‘Cheshbon Hanefesh’ (accounting of the soul) is a basic tenet in Judaism, where one looks retrospectively back at his life and makes an account of all the decisions and actions he’s done.

Rochtza: Ok, enough with dealing with the past. Now we can wash away what was, and start looking ahead into the future.

Motzi: There are three Matzos which resembles three types of Jews. When reciting this blessing we hold all three in our hands. This is a sign of unity, which according to the words of the great sage Hillel: “This is the whole Torah, the rest is merely commentary.” What a great way to begin the future!

Matzah: Matzah with its lack of yeast resembles humility. Bringing humility and a broken heart is the next step in making ourselves a vessel for holiness.

Maror: Earlier we shed tears of remorse. This time we shed tears of yearning and love for G-d, to Whom we are working to get closer to, one step at a time.

Korech: Humility mixed with love for G-d?! Wow that is the whole Chassidus on one foot! Way to go!

Shulchan Orech: So, you’ve become holy! Does that mean that you have to climb onto the Himalayas and starve yourself for weeks with your eyes closed to become holier? No! The Jewish way is to live in the world and bring holiness into the physical.

Tzafun: Judaism doesn’t shun individuality; quite the contrary, it encourages people to discover their talents and use them in the service of the Creator.

Barech: When using the physical (Shulchan Orech) and our talents (Tzafun), make sure not to get carried away and forget who gave it to us, and why they exist.

Hallel: Wow! What an opportunity of growth has been given to us. A song of praise and thanks is sung to the Creator who gave us the chance to repent and become closer to Him.

Nirtza: Yes, our journey has been a success, but we cannot forget about the greater journey which began at the dawn of creation and is about to conclude – the coming of Moshiach. Stand up and cry: We Want Moshiach Now!

Night 2 - Body

Kadesh: Wine brings happiness, and when going on this journey we can either do it with sadness and anger or with joy and elation. The Jewish way is the happy way. L’chaim! For a successful journey.

Urchatz: All those notions you have developed about yourself “I can’t do this, I can’t do that!” - just wash them away. If we are to change, we must believe that we can change!

Karpas: On this journey, you might have to confront hurts from your past which will cause pain and tears, don’t be afraid to take them head on, it will only make you stronger.

Yachatz: Ok, let’s go. The first step in healing is the acknowledgment that we are all good and the mistakes we made don’t make us bad people. Separate the action from the person.

Maggid: Talk it out. To yourself, to a trusted friend. Talk it out. If that’s too hard, write it down. Put your life story in front of you. And appreciate the G-dly Hand in all of it.

Rochtza: Ok, enough with dealing with the past. The past is past; your future is in your hands. Don’t let your history keep you hostage! Wash it off!

Motzi: When looking toward the future, you are not alone. There is Someone up there who loves you and watches over you every second. Why, He even takes time to make wheat grow to sustain us. He is there. He is here. He is everywhere.

Matza: Humility is not only a vessel for G-dliness. It’s also a vessel for wholesome relationships, with family, friends, and even with ourselves. Put your ego aside, and your life will take a leap for the better.

Maror: “Happily ever after” is a nice slogan for story tellers, but an untrue line for humans who live in this universe. Pain is a fact of life, the question is the perspective on how to look at it and deal with it. If we can accept the challenges that come our way, we are guaranteed a happier and more peaceful life.

Korech: Every one of us has his own ‘pekel’ - baggage of good things and of the not so good, be it family, parnasa, nachas, etc. we all have our own ‘pekel’. Mix ‘em all together and thank G-d for your ‘pekel’.

Shulchan Orech: Enjoy life! Eat, sleep, enjoy each precious moment. Ok, don’t go overboard… but it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the sunshine, nature and all its blessing. After all it was all created for you!

Tzafun: Oh, don’t say that you’re not special, and that there’s nothing unique about you. For if that’s the case, then why would G-d have put you in this world? Obviously because you can accomplish things that no one else can accomplish! Bring out the real you! Let yourself shine!

Barech: A good tool for any relationship: say “Thank you!” compliment people and say nice things about them. Tell a kid he’s an animal, and he’ll act like one. Tell him he’s a saint, and he’ll be one!

Hallel: Even though we are dealing with the body, we must remember that in Judaism, body and soul are deeply connected. This is your chance for thanking G-d for everything He’s given you and continues to give!

Nirtza: Look onto the horizon and envision for yourself a future. Once you have a clear vision, now it’s time to start the journey to become the best you can.

In Chabad we don’t say “The Seder is over”, because in essence the Seder never really ends. On the contrary, the journey has just begun…

When did the Jews leave Egypt? Exactly at noon on the fifteenth of Nissan. When did they start counting down the 49 days to the giving of the Torah on Sinai? Just a few hours later on the sixteenth!

Let’s think about it for a moment. The Jews hadn’t even crossed the Red Sea yet, Pharaoh was still bound to chase them and bring them back to slavery, (as he so daringly tried to do, and only by the miraculous miracle of the splitting of the sea, and the drowning of the Egyptians was his evil plan averted.)

If that’s the case, then why were they rushing to begin the countdown to the next milestone – Sinai, immediately after the exodus?

Moreover, we can be sure that the Jews had a pretty decent hint about what would transpire at Sinai. They knew that Sinai would spell the end of doing what they want without accountability, and a whole new way of life with so many limitations and consequences/punishment.

The Jews hadn’t even had the chance to live like free men, and they were already counting down to a new form of slavery and accountability? Is there anything wrong with enjoying the delicious taste of freedom for a few days, without thinking about the next leg in this historic journey?

The answer my friend, can be found in the Declaration of Independence of the USA. Let’s take a peek:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Yup, those magic words “endowed by their Creator” are our answer. For in them lay the difference between the American Revolution which made the country the beacon of freedom and liberty to the whole world until this very day; to so many other revolutions crying the same cry of “democracy” or “all men are created equal” (communism) which did not last.

Freedom without a Creator, or in other words, without the understanding that the freedom is a gift of G-d, and that only when serving and being accountable to G-d is freedom possible, is not freedom. It might sound like freedom, it might even taste for a moment like freedom, but it is not freedom. It isn’t even a democracy. For if there are no divine principals to be accountable for, then there are no principals at all.

Just look at so many countries claiming to be democratic, and how far they really are from earning that title. Democracy without G-d is simply not possible.

Our ancestors 3300 years ago were yearning to live like free men with rights such as Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. So they rushed to Sinai to be given those rights, and to live a life of true freedom – as servants of the Creator.

So it’s that time of the year again where pious Jews start living outdoor Hawaiian style. Plus once a day they take a bunch of leaves with a citrus, wrap them together and shake ‘em, raising eyebrows from many a passerby.

Let’s take a closer look at what this green and yellow combo is comprised of… and maybe we can even find great relevance to our daily lives!

We’ll start with the best looking and tasting of the bunch, the Etrog – citrus. Ah what a taste and oh what a smell. Like those times when we are at our best, willing to do anything were asked, our temper is locked away, our self esteem is just perfect, we are strong and firm and at the same time soft and warm.

Downside? Ego. It’s at these times that our ego takes a soar to the heavens… ‘I’m just the best’.

Etrog – we’re in the mood for everything.

In second place comes the Lulav – palm frond. Palms (dates) have a great taste but lack aroma, implying that they have substance – mind, but lack smell– action. I am honest and fair, I read every book on business management and on being the perfect spouse and parent, and I follow them to the letter! You’ll never find me doing the wrong thing, I am a fully thought out person.

So what’s my downside? Don’t ask me to take out the garbage, because I’m too busy learning the different personalities of my three year old son and my six month old daughter and how it affects their relationship… Oh, and to fold laundry? Please, that is so dull. Basically I’m the kind of guy who’s wonderful to describe on paper and on the tomb, but not necessarily easy to live with.

Lulav – we’re in the mood for reflection, not action.

A millisecond later comes in our third mood the Hadas – myrtle. Smells like heaven, but nothing to munch on. Lots of warmth, but no brains… I’ll build anything you ask from me, I’ll take out the garbage, yes, yes, yes whatever you ask. Robot.

Downside? One thing I can’t do is to sit and reflect. I’m not in the mood to delve into intellectual pursuits, I’m just busy doing the right thing and I don’t have time to learn what the right thing is!

Hadas – Just do, don’t think. Not exactly a relationship mood…

In the last place we have Mr. and Mrs. Arava – willow. Nothing to talk about. No taste and no smell. Just one lousy mood. Those times when we roll up in the blanket until 4 pm and forget the world exists and all else. Zero productivity.

Upside? This mood is honest and humble! He knows his faults and he doesn’t feel too good about it…

Arava – lock down.

Take all these moods, which sometimes can all occur within the same 24 hours… and learn from the pro’s and con’s of each of them. Wrap them all together, say a blessing to G-d and request him to make us greater and stronger than our moods. Then shake them and shake them and shake them until you become master of them all…

This past Shabbos I spent my afternoon at a Bar Mitzva of a friend. We all sat together in a basketball gym turned ballroom and tried to no avail to listen to speeches in a room with the worst acoustics anyone could have invented, and we wished L’chaim to the new ‘big boy’ and his family.

Once the formal part was over the informal part began. Around a small table laden with leftovers and schnapps the Yeshiva boys sat down for a Farbrengen - a sit together with a dynamic ‘Farbrenger’s relative of the boy.

We find ourselves two hours ‘in’ and the atmosphere is warm and honest. It’s time for real and honest reflection.

“In the real world, says the farbrenger, there is a slogan that says “fake it till you make it!” For example a stock broker who must drive a car at a 600 dollars a month lease, and wear Fifth Avenue suits making sure to always look sharp and spiffy.

In reality however this guy is just out college and he’s a total shnorer, and the fancy suit was borrowed from uncle Hymie and the leased car is about to be confiscated by the IRS…

But what’s the poor guy supposed to do? The only way anybody is gonna blink in his direction is if he looks like he’s a something.

What happens later? Well in the beginning it’s all a fake, but with G-d’s help eventually it becomes a reality and he can afford to lend his fancy suits to the newbie’s…

Fake it till you make it!

This is so relevant to each and every one of us, cries the Farbrenger, in so many different ways.

For example we have the guy that says: “Oh, this whole Jewish thing, c’mon I only come Yom Kippur and that’s only because grandpa won’t mention me in his will unless I come, so why make believe that I’m praying?”

What do we tell him? “Fake it till you make it!

“I hate my parent/sibling/neighbor/classmate so why fake it as if we get along?”

Fake it till you make it!

“My self esteem is in the Dead Sea and I feel useless, so why go around and continue living and putting up a smile as if life is normal?”

Fake it till you make it!

Dear friends, may you and your family be sealed in the Book of Life for the coming year. And may this year be a year when the faking stops with the coming of the true redemption speedily in our days.

Dear friend I would like to wish a year that all your dreams become realities. And for those of us who have yet to dream… let the dreams begin!

May you begin to believe in yourself as much as your Father in heaven believes in you…

May you have endless reasons to smile and laugh, and no reasons for agony and pain.

May there be peace within ourselves and in the world in general …

And the most important blessing of all:

Moshiach Now!

*

With G-d so close by in honor of the New Year, I thought that I might as well use the opportunity and ask G-d a few questions and hear His point of view. Here are the highlights of the conversation.

Jew: great to see you again. As You know this world recently has being going haywire, so it’s quite a relief to feel Your presence.

G-d: You know, I am so impressed with the human race how they handle the crises with so much optimism and great faith in Me. The angels up in heaven have a lot to envy.

Jew: Sorry for the Chutzpah dear G-d, but did I hear a bit of pleasure in Your voice when you mentioned our struggles?

G-d: I must admit that although I am pained by the plight of my children; I derive deep joy and satisfaction, when a child of mine uses his or her pain as a stepping stool to growth.

Jew: Back to the subject matter. There’s a lot on the plate these days, as both Israel and the USA’s government are in transition. Plus we have the economic meltdown and a moral collapse in society. Hmm… is there an end in sight? Is this part of a Master plan with a good outcome?

G-d: Why of course! This is all part of a process that was in plan long ago. Truth to be told, this whole balagan should be of no surprise to you, for the Talmud clearly writes that in the last moments before the redemption all of these events will unfold!

Jew: Let me just clarify for the readers. Are you saying that everything going on is a sign that the redemption is near?

G-d: Yes I did. And please quote me on that.

Jew: I am sorry dear G-d for cutting this conversation short but I must run and tell everyone I know what you just told me.

G-d: So is this conversation over?

Jew: Just for a short moment, for if you say that redemption is near, that means that you fill finally reveal Yourself to us once and for all! And then we will continue this conversation for ever and ever! Right?

G-d: You have my word! I will never hang up the phone again!

And for the split second until that unlimited phone call starts I would like to wish you and all of my dear children ‘A good year! A Ksiva Vachasima tova!’.

See you soon…