B"H

Monday, Adar2- 22, 5784 / April 1, 2024

Pesach, the holiday in which we celebrate our freedom from the Egyptian bondage, will begin Monday night, April 22.

Jews in Egypt were enslaved not only physically but also spiritually. At that time, they were at their lowest spiritual level. Their Exodus from Egypt, in addition to being a physical liberation, was also a freedom from their spiritual condition. They attained even greater spiritual elevation when they received the Torah at Mount Sinai, seven weeks later.

With the holiday of Pesach we re-experience the Exodus. Peasch is a time when G-d enables each of us to free ourselves of our own spiritual limitations which constrict our connecting to G-d.

The mitzvah to remember the Exodus applies everyday, morning and night, which is why we mention the Exodus in the dailyservices. Yet, there is more emphasis on remembering it on Passover, especially at the Seder.

Q.  Why is remembering the Exodus at the Seder, on the anniversary of the Exodus, more meaningful than remembering it during the rest of the year?

A.  The Magid of Dubna gives the following parable: A king traveled with his entourage to visit his subjects. As they were passing through a forest, one of the riders became very thirsty and fainted.  No one had any water, so the king sent one of the soldiers to the river, a few miles away.

In the meantime, the person's condition became very grave. The king ordered his men to immediately start digging for water. Everyone began digging furiously and before long they hit fresh water and revived him.  A while later the soldier returned with fresh water from the river.

A few days later a wayfarer traveled through the forest and passed the same place. The sun was hot and he too became very thirsty and was in great need of water.

Now, if someone would tell him that a few miles further there is a river with fresh water, it may not help him much. Who knows if he could reach the river before he would pass out. However, the well that was dug on this spot will surely help him. All he had to do is bend down and reach for the water.

Explains the Magid of Dubna: During the rest of the year, we are like the one who must walk down the road to the river to get water. It takes greater efforton our part to realize our personal spiritual freedom. However, on Pesach, the day when the Exodus actually took place, we are like the man who is standing at the very spot where the well was dug. On Pesach, we re-live the story of the Exodus. It is all within easy reach. All we have to do is realize it and benefit from our spiritual freedom.

   HAVE A VERY GOOD, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL, HAPPY DAY & HAPPY MONTH ADAR

UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL

& FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVES. MAY THEY BE RELEASED NOW.