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Posts Tagged ‘5770’

As we sit down on Pesach (Passover) night at the Seder, we make a transition that we wouldn’t realize unless we think about it. All day we prepare the food, making sure we don’t have Chametz (leavened bread), making sure we have all the Marror (bitter plants) and eggs ready. The unleavened bread is to remind us that we’re still poor, the Marror to remind us of the past exile, and the eggs dipped in salt to remind us that we’re still in exile. Then, we start the Seder, and the first thing we say is how this is the “time of our freedom”. We continue by telling the story of how we were freed, and we even act like we’re kings by leaning when we sit! Are we slaves, or are we free kings? 

R’ Yerucham of Mir explains that the “time of our freedom” means that not only was it when we were freed from slavery many years ago, but it’s the time when we can do the same TODAY. What does that mean? 

Aren’t we free? And if we’re not, how does Pesach ‘free’ us? That’s where Pesach, Matzah and Marror come in. Those are the 3 things that remind us, especially when we’re feeling like kings, that we were slaves, and that we’re still in bitter surroundings. If you think about it, because we were saved from slavery by G-d, we are now indebted to Him, which means that we’re still not, and never will be, really free. The point we have to take from all this is that although we’re free to do as we wish, it’s only worth something when we use that freedom to do something good, and be constructive with our lives. 

Pesach teaches us that “freedom” used just for the sake of being “free” is pretty “dumb”!

Passover in 2010 will start on Tuesday, the 30th of March and will continue for 7 days until Monday, the 5th of April.

Note that in the Jewish calander, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Jews will celebrate Passover on the sunset of Monday, the 29th of March.

In its formal structure, Sukkot most closely resembles Pesach. Both are seven days long, and both arrive on the 15th day of their respective months, exactly half a year apart. Yet, Pesach doesn’t have a post- holiday gathering, while Sukkot has the 8th day, Shemini Azteret, which is a distinct, separate festival. For the first time in a week, we stop “living” in the Sukkah and put away our Lulav and Etrog. So what is this “Eighth day holiday” really about?

The Targum says that the word “Atzeret” means “gathering”. One major part of Sukkot is the necessity for the Jewish people to gather together as Jews. Shemini Atzeret is a festival that is dedicated to the Achdut (unity), of the Jews. Although other holidays may also fulfill this same purpose, Shemini Atzeret, a holiday with no distinct reason, is dedicated to the theme of unifying all Jews.

Especially in these modern times, the issue of ‘Who is a Jew’

sometimes grows more important than ‘What is a Jew’. Shemini Atzeret is a time where G-d doesn’t want any Jews to become separated. He wants all Jews to be unified, no matter what their level of observance. I want one more day where all Jews can be unified as one. Read the rest of this entry »

Sukkot is a happy time. In fact, it’s so happy that the Torah says it is. It’s called Zman Simchateynu (the time of our happiness). But it’s even more then that. The Torah commands us to be happy. So what’s all this happiness for? You have to eat in a shack and shake a fruit, palm branches, and leaves. Why should we be happy, and why should we be COMMANDED to be happy?

Part of the answer lies in the reasons for what we do, and what they symbolize. The Sukkah needs to be made so that it’s temporary in nature, to symbolize the way it was in the desert when the Jews left Egypt. But it also symbolizes the way it is in this world. We’re living in a temporary world, with weak walls, a leaky ceiling, and decorations. And that’s exactly what’s supposed to make us so happy.

That leaky ceiling is the connection we have with the real reality (heaven/G-d), and it’s the light from above that reflects from the decorations onto the walls, shining on everything. This Sukkot, we should look around us and think about all the temporary decorations in our lives, and how we can increase the number of permanent decorations we prepare. Especially right after Yom Kippur, when we (hopefully) committed to some sort of spiritual improvement, Sukkot is the perfect opportunity to exercise it. Read the rest of this entry »

As Rosh Hashana approaches and the New Year Approaches let me wish everyone Shana Tova (a good year)

Rosh Hashana, according to the Sefer Hachinuch, is the day on which the creatures of the world are judged, both as a whole, and as individuals. But why have a Day of Judgment if the ruling won’t be final until Yom Kippur, which is 10 days later? If the judgment isn’t final until Yom Kippur, then Yom Kippur should be the only Judgment Day, and thus Rosh Hashanah has no real purpose!? In addition, of all things, why did G-d choose the Shofar (ram’s horn) as the tool to inspire our repentance.

The Ben Ish Chai tells the story of a man who had a ring made especially for him. He engraved the words “This too shall pass” on the ring. If he was troubled or pained, he would look at his ring and remember that his suffering would eventually end. Likewise, during times of happiness, he would gaze at the ring as well and realize that his wealth and good fortune could change for the worse in an instant.”This too shall pass.” The ring reminded the man that his life must be put in perspective, and that one should never live life either complacent or despondent. We too can use the Shofar to represent joy (as we did when we won a battle), and it can represent sorrow (since it sounds like crying). Read the rest of this entry »