Holy Days
1. “The Sages Say” 2. “The Kabbalists Say” 3.
“The Rebbes Say”
1.
The Sages Say
The Sh’lah Hakodesh
writes that all of the actions we do at the Passover Seder are indications of
our freedom, not just the freedom of our bodies but of our souls as well. We
have been redeemed from within the klipot, the ‘husks’, the place where
we were slaves to a worldly physical dimension. Why? Because the G-dly dimension was hidden from us. There are 50 levels of impurity in the
world, in the days of the Egyptian exile we were sunk into the 49th level (one
more level and the redemption would have been impossible). The Exile was the archetype, today each
person is stuck in his or her own unique set of difficulties and limitations. On the night of Pesach however, we are
able to overcome these limitations.
It is through the actual effects of the mitzvahs and the rejoicing in
the details of the seder that we are redeemed.
2. The Kabbalists Say
In the early book of
Kabbala, The Worm Of Yaacov, it is written that the four cups of wine
that we drink on the Seder night correspond to four separate stages of
deliverance from the klipas/husks.
It is because of this intense, low level of klipa that our forefather
Yaacov feared to go to Egypt until the Holy One Blessed be He said to him
[Gen.46:3-4] “Do not be afraid.... I will go down with you and I will most
certainly go out with you.” This
is an eternal promise that whenever we go into exile the Divine Presence is
with us and that when the Almighty comes to redeem us, He redeems Himself as
well.
In order for the redemption
to take place, it required the destruction of the klipas (the husks) - the coverings of the truth. This is one of the reasons that the Jewish
people were given two commandments on the eve of their departure from Egypt.
The first was the offering of the Pascal lamb - the first level of the
destruction of the klipa was the destruction of the false gods of our enemies.
The second was circumcision, to remove the foreskin from ourselves, which is
also like a husk that conceals. Each
year, as we come closer to Pesach, we have to put ourselves through this dual
process again. That is why we were commanded to drink four cups of wine, while
reclining, like kings. Just as the juice of the grape was contained within its
skin and then released to become wine, so too, we have been released from the
husks, also referred to as the foreskin of Egypt. And before drinking the 4th
cup we complete the recital of Hallel, the song of thanksgiving, because
with the conclusion of the seder we have become servants of G-d rather than the
slaves of Pharaoh
3. The Rebbes Say
To enter into the unique
sanctity of Passover, we must first prepare ourselves by removing and then
destroying all of the chometz, that it not be seen nor found in our
homes and by extension, in our lives. Then, when Pesach arrives, we may go from
darkness to light. What is this chometz?
Physical chometz is even the smallest particle of any leavened product
or leavening agent. Spiritually,
chometz is like leavened breads and cakes which are puffed up and extra tasty –
it symbolizes the pride and
haughtiness that insinuate themselves into all aspects of our daily lives
leaving no space to love or truly acknowledge anything outside of ourselves,
particularly G-d. The true
reality, G-d is the boss and all of our accomplishments are through Him (and
even failures—depression is also a dimension of pride and puffiness!). This is why, once a year, when the eve
of Pesach comes, we have to check for physical and spiritual chometz and eradicate
it, even in its most minute quantities.
This process is embodied in
the ‘cleaning’ that goes on for weeks before the holiday, the search for
chometz that takes place the final
evening before Pesach, and the burning of the results of our search on the
following morning (see your
Hagadah). And then for seven (or
eight, outside of Israel) days, we guard ourselves and our homes that we will
not see or possess any chometz – physically and spiritually.
This is integrally
connected to the eating of Matza, unleavened bread, at the seder. Matza (which is completely flat), is
the opposite of haughtiness and puffiness. The Zohar calls matza both bread of faith, and bread
of health. Faith, because once we have cleansed ourselves of all of the
chometz, matzo gives us the ability to experience G-d in the world; Health,
because from this place of faith, all true health is rooted. Without salt and
leaven it is “bread of the poor”, helping us to become humble so that the faith
and healing can enter. (Based
on Likutei Sichot)
For the 5th year, Ascent is asking you to
contribute to our Pesach campaign for needy immigrants. This is your last
chance to join this campaign. This year’s budget will be over $20,000. Our
Israel address is above. USA: Rm 28, 383 Kingston Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213.
England: 3 Sunny Gardens Parade, NW4. Thank you in advance for your
consideration and assistance.