Category — Pesach

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.

Pesach is a holiday of questions and answers. It’s also a holiday of freedom. Let’s ask some freedom questions.
Q: On Pesach everyone recites the Kiddush, and the whole year we rely on the Kiddush of someone else. Why the difference?

A: Kiddush means elevation, and on Pesach we are reminded that when it comes to elevation – freedom of one’s little Egypt, we can’t rely on someone else. Do it yourself!

Q: On Pesach we drink four cups of wine. I know there are many explanations; tell me an explanation with the same theme as the previous answer?

A: Sure! The Shala (Shnei luchut habrit) says that the 4 cups symbolize the four Matriarchs. Look at this:

On cup 1 we recite the Kiddush, in which we read “Who has chosen us from among all nations”, resembles Sarah who together with her husband Abraham brought many people closer to G-d. Abraham and Sarah stood up against the pagan society and changed the world, one person at a time!

Cup 2 comes after reading of Jacobs’s hardships and troubles under his father-in-law Lavan. So this cup resembles Rebecca’s defiance and courage, that although she grew up in such an immoral environment, she nevertheless defied all odds and became the great woman who she was. Once again: yes you can!

Cup 3, on which we say the grace after meals, corresponds to Joseph, son of Rachel, who fed the whole world during the drought. Joseph defied all odds (brothers hatred and 12 years of slavery) to become the treasurer of the world!

With cup 4 we conclude the Hallel, the prayer of thanks and praise to G-d, reminding us of the attribute of appreciation which we are taught by Lea, who was first to thank G-d by naming her fourth son Judah (thankfulness). Look at the blessings that you have, and say thank you!

Q: I can understand how we, living in the free world can celebrate this holiday of freedom, but how did our grandparents celebrate it throughout our long history of oppression, didn’t they see the irony of it?

A: Freedom is not so much about location; it’s about a mindset. Just look around and see people who physically live in a free world, but their attitude is that of a prisoner: “Me? I can never do that!” “It’s all because of my nose that I’ll never make it anywhere!” “I want to. But I can’t”. These are enslaved people, not by dictators and tyrants, but by themselves.

The great miracle of the exodus was that G-d introduced the mindset of freedom. “Yes! You can get out of here!” “Yes! You can defy the odds!” And that mindset was present at the Seder’s celebrated in the gulags, in Auschwitz, in Spain and in Babel.

Your Kiddush cup, your grandmother Rebecca, and your grandfather’s Seder in Bergen Belsen, all scream to you:

Dear… Freedom is a choice! This holiday, choose freedom! YES YOU CAN!

Please friends let’s do all we can to have This year in Jerusalem!

Answer: They both should take less than 18 minutes!

***

It is really hot outside. Hot like a desert.

There are hundreds of people out there in the fields, wrapped in rags, with ripped sandals on their aching feet. They walk haggardly, the whiplash marks painted all over their broken bodies. To the side stands the guard, a dark-skinned man with an interesting-looking beard.

Stop for a moment and imagine the scene. Enter Egypt of 3300 years ago.

Now make use of your imaginary Photoshop program, and insert yourself into the picture. From now on, you will be experiencing the drama along with the others. You will try to feel their pain and plight.

Ready? Let’s continue.

You notice one of your co-workers collapsing. He is blue.

You don’t cry; you are already immune to pain, having lived this nightmare for the last seventy years. Life is painful.

When the guard walks over to the dead man, you have a brief moment to think undisturbed. Your mind begins to wander…

You remember the time your daddy sat you on his lap and related what had been told to him by his father, quoting the patriarch of the family: A day would come when a man would arise and declare in the name of G-d, “I have surely remembered you!” Then all the suffering would end…

Whip! GET TO WORK! The guard is back. Back to reality!

Back to work you go, but with a flicker of hope. The future you see so vividly revives your shattered soul. It is all about to end, you tell yourself with pure faith.

BOOM!

Hey, what’s the noise I hear? Why is everyone shouting?

You raise your eyes and behold a dream come true.

There stands a man with an angelic look, with a long white beard and eyes so kind you forget your troubles. And he is shouting for all to hear, “G-d has said: ‘I have surely remembered you!’”

Moses is in town. Welcome.

*

Now close Photoshop. Go back to the exile of America 2008.

No whips, no guards, but an exile of a different sort – a prison of secularism and lack of Divine revelation.

BOOM!

Hey, what’s that noise I hear? Why is everyone shouting?

You raise your eyes and behold a dream come true.

There stands a man with an angelic look, with a long white beard and eyes so kind you feel the truth penetrating your soul. And he is shouting for all to hear, “The time of your redemption has arrived!”

Moshiach is in town.

Welcome.

A Jewish man was waiting in line to be knighted by the Queen of England. He was supposed to kneel and recite a sentence in Latin.

His turn comes, he kneels, the queen taps him on the shoulders with the sword … and in the panic of excitement he forgets the Latin line. Thinking quickly, he recites the only other line he knows in a foreign language, one he remembers from the Passover Seder:

“Mah nishtana ha-lailah ha-zeh mi-kol ha-leilot.” The puzzled Queen turns to her adviser and asks, “Why is this knight different from all other knights?”

***

Joey is a non-practicing Jew who is unfamiliar with Jewish customs. He is present at the Seder thanks to the phone call he received from his Jewish boss inviting him to participate.

Not knowing what he is celebrating, he waits for an opportunity to question his host. He doesn’t have to wait long, for little Josh soon stands up to ask the four questions: “Why is this night different from all other nights?”

Daddy takes over with the traditional response: “We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt …”

Joey the newcomer interjects, “I don’t recall ever being a slave in Egypt!”

Daddy: “We’re talking about our ancestors who were enslaved three thousand years ago.”

Joey is confused. “So we are sitting around with crackers and wine celebrating something that occurred to some nomads before the Common Era?”

Grandpa chips in: “You’re right, Joey. That can’t be all there is to the holiday. Rather, tonight we sit here, not just to commemorate a miracle in ancient history, but to relive history.

“On Passover 1312 BCE the Jews left slavery and the cruel oppression of a dictator. When we sit tonight retelling the story, we are, in essence, beginning our own journey towards freedom.”

Joey: “I’m sorry; I don’t get your drift. After all, we live in a free society where we are free to practice and act as we wish. Where do you see slavery in all of this?”

Grandpa: “Tell me Joey: are you proud to be a Jew?”

Joey: “Of course.”

Grandpa: “It what way do you express it?”

Joey: “Nothing really; I mean, practicing Judaism is quite a pain and is old-fashioned besides.”

Grandpa: “Hmmm… did you notice what you just said? Your reasons for neglecting the Mitzvos are external – it’s uncomfortable, it’s not popular or modern. But what of your true self – who are you?”

Joey: “I’m a Jew, obviously.”

Grandpa: “Think for a moment about what you really want – not your ego, your friends, or the media, but you…”

Joey: “Ah, I get your point! I am a slave to my own self-built limitations, as well as to what society says.”

Grandpa: “And that’s the timely message of Passover. Free yourself. Break the chains. Cry out. As President Reagan so passionately cried facing the Berlin Wall, ‘Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!’”

This year we are slaves; next year, free men.