B"H
Monday, Adar2 18, 5782 / March 21, 2022
Now that Purim is behind us, we start preparing for the upcoming holiday of Pesach (Passover).
The Talmud tells us that the reason we celebrate Purim, in a leap year, in the second Adar is, “To connect the two redemptions close to each other; the redemption of Purim, when we were liberated from Haman’s evil decree to the redemption of Pesach, when we were liberated from enslavement at the hands of the Egyptians.”
Pesach, this year, will begin Friday night, April 15.
Pesach is not just another holiday in the Jewish calendar. It is the root and basis of all other holidays. This is why, in the Shabbat and every holiday Kiddush, we mention the redemption from Egypt, because Pesach is the foundation of all holidays and even Shabbat.
The mitzvah of resting on Shabbat as stated in the Second Tablets, is connected to the Exodus and our liberation from Egypt. The Torah states, "Remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt and the L-rd your G-d brought you out from there with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm; therefore, the L-rd your G-d commanded you to keep the Shabbat day" (Deut. 5:15). Here we see that Shabbat and the holiday of Pesach are connected.
Remembering the Exodus is a daily mitzvah. The Torah commands, “You shall remember the day you came out of the Land of Egypt all the days of your life (Deut. 16:3).
The reason that the holiday of Pesach is the lifeline which flows through Shabbat and all the holidays is because on Pesach we attained our freedom. The purpose of the liberation from Egypt was to bring us to Mount Sinai, so that we can receive the Torah and its mitzvot.
According to our sages, thirty days before each of the three festive holidays we should begin studying and reviewing the laws and customs of that holiday. This is especially true for Pesach as there are so many laws, customs and reasons associated with this holiday and especially the Pesach Seder.
The Pesach holiday consists of seven days in Israel and eight days in the Diaspora.
Pesach celebrates two great miracles. The first days of Pesach we celebrate the miracle of the Exodus, when Jews were freed from bondage after being in Egypt for 210 years. The last days celebrate the miracle of the splitting of the sea, when they crossed through the sea in dry land, while the Egyptians who chased after them, drowned.
In the next three weeks, between now and Pesach, we will, G-d willing, try to review as much as possible about the holiday of Pesach.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY