The Weekly Dvar Torah
Volume 2 Issue #15
Important Lessons of Freedom
Bo
Adapted from the wisdom of Rav Meir Simcha HaCohen of Dvinsk from the Meshech Chochmoh and Rav Tzadok HaCohen from Pri Tzadik and other works.
By Rav Yitzchak Schwartz Rosh Yeshiva Orchos Chaim Jerusalem
yschwartz@orchos.org.
This publication, Zichron Yehoshua, is in memory of Yehoshua Yakov ben Moshe-Jeffrey Nussbaum through a generous grant from Dr. Eric Nussbaum and family.
This issue is dedicated Avigail bas Yocheved, may she be blessed.
The Freedom of Discipline
“This month [Nissan] shall be unto you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak unto all the congregation of Israel, saying: In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household†(Shemot 12:2-3)
In the Meshech Chochmah Rav Meir Simcha HaCohen of Dvinsk reveals several meaningful lessons that we can learn from the mitzvah of the Pesach sacrifice. The Pesach offering (the Paschal Lamb) applies in every generation when the Holy Temple stands. However, the first time the Jewish people were instructed to bring the offering has some unique aspects. The Pesach sacrifice is offered in the afternoon of the fourteenth of Nisan and consumed at the Seder table after twilight. The first time was an exception to this rule. Hashem instructed them to acquire and designate the lamb on the tenth of Nissan and to wait until the fourteenth of Nissan to slaughter it. What was the significance of this unique requirement?
The Meshech Chochmah explains that in order for the Jewish people to receive the Torah and fulfill their mission in the world they would need to become an organized and disciplined nation; distinguished in their customs, behavior, and faithful to their leaders. Hashem understood that the people had not yet achieved this stature. Their hearts were filled with an intense urge and excitement in anticipation of their imminent redemption from the horrors of Egyptian persecution. However, in order for a society to succeed it needs to operate with intellect and discipline, not raw impulse and passion. Their enthusiasm to finally gain their freedom and leave Egyptian servitude could cause them to depart in disorder and disarray.
As part of their preparation for nationhood, Hashem wanted to teach them an essential lesson. He instructed them to begin their preparation for redemption four days prior to its conception. The acquisition of the lamb, four days early, would increase their excitement and enthusiasm for the impending exodus on the fourteenth of Nissan. Notwithstanding their burning desire for freedom, they would have to wait four days following the acquisition of the lamb before they could offer it. This would train them to contain their impulsiveness and develop disciplined behavior. Their redemption was the outcome of orderly and respectable conduct rather than frenzy. In so doing, Hashem taught the people an invaluable truth. Discipline and orderliness, rather than impulsiveness, brings happiness and freedom.
Freedom From Selfishness
Another unique aspect of the first Pesach offering was that the redemption of the people depended upon everyone fulfilling the mitzvah of the Pesach offering. No one was allowed to leave Egypt until every single Jewish family attained a lamb and fulfilled the mitzvah. However, since the vast majority of the people were still impoverished; how would they be able to afford to purchase a whole lamb? Our sages teach us that despite the fact that most of the people were poor; some Jews managed to overcome the economic oppression of Egypt. Hashem told Moshe to instruct these wealthy Jews to give money to those who did not have so that they too could buy lambs for their families.
Emigration is always an arduous task. When people are confronted with this challenge it is essential to secure every bit of one’s financial resources because it is impossible to know all of the possible challenges that the move to a foreign land may present. This was especially true of the exodus from Egypt when the Jewish people had no idea how they would be able to survive the journeys that they faced.
By instructing the wealthy to provide money for the poor people to acquire the animals for the Pesach offering, Hashem taught them another important lesson. We should make sure that the drive for personal freedom and security does not blind us from the needs of those who are less privileged. Our personal well-being depends upon facilitating equal opportunity for the good and welfare of others. Even though the survival instinct is a necessary reality, Hashem instructed them to rise above their natural inclination to preserve wealth for the sake of personal security and augment it with actions that will assure welfare and security for others who are less capable.
Celebrating Freedom
“Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread; but the first day you shall put away leaven out of your houses; for whosoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.†(12:15)
The Jewish people received this commandment prior to leaving Egypt. In light of the fact that they knew that they would gain their freedom on the first day of Pesach; communication of the laws concerning the first day was understandable. However, since at that time no one knew that the following six days would climax with the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea and subsequent destruction of the entire Egyptian army; why did Hashem inform them of the laws concerning the rest of the six days of the holiday prior to them having any significance?
The Meshech Chochmah explains that despite the fact that the destruction of the Egyptian enemies had not yet occurred and the remaining six days of Pesach had no significance, nonetheless, by introducing the laws of the entire seven days of Pesach Hashem teaches the Jewish people an important lesson. The observance of Pesach is a time to celebrate our redemption, not an occasion to celebrate victory and revenge.
Many nations have days of festivity that commemorate their war victories over their enemies. This is not appropriate in the eyes of Hashem. “Rejoice not over the demise of your enemy.†(Mishle-Proverbs) Hashem takes no pleasure in the destruction of the wicked. The celebration of Pesach is a time to celebrate our freedom, not the destruction of the wicked. This is the reason why the full Hallel is recited only on the first day of Pesach. On the remaining six day it is recited only in an abridged form in order to remind us not to rejoice over the death of our enemies.
“I also will give thanks unto You even unto Your truth, O my G-d; I will sing praises unto You with the harp, O Thou Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing praises to You; and my soul, which You have redeemed. My tongue also shall express Your righteousness all the day; for they are ashamed, for they are abashed, that seek my hurt.†(Psalms 71: 22-24)
When King David expressed his gratitude and thanks to Hashem for his redemption, he rejoiced with the harp and his lips – external expressions of joy. However, when acknowledging his salvation from the evil actions of his enemies he did not sing with his lips and a harp. He expressed them [without song] with his tongue. The use of his tongue only, rather than his lips that are an external part of the body, conveys the idea that King David’s acknowledgement and gratitude for the demise of his enemies was a private affair, not a public celebration.
By Rav Yitzchak Schwartz Rosh Yeshiva Orchos Chaim Jerusalem
yschwartz@orchos.org.
This publication, Zichron Yehoshua, is in memory of Yehoshua Yakov ben Moshe-Jeffrey Nussbaum through a generous grant from Dr. Eric Nussbaum and family.
This issue is dedicated Avigail bas Yocheved, may she be blessed.
The Freedom of Discipline
“This month [Nissan] shall be unto you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak unto all the congregation of Israel, saying: In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household†(Shemot 12:2-3)
In the Meshech Chochmah Rav Meir Simcha HaCohen of Dvinsk reveals several meaningful lessons that we can learn from the mitzvah of the Pesach sacrifice. The Pesach offering (the Paschal Lamb) applies in every generation when the Holy Temple stands. However, the first time the Jewish people were instructed to bring the offering has some unique aspects. The Pesach sacrifice is offered in the afternoon of the fourteenth of Nisan and consumed at the Seder table after twilight. The first time was an exception to this rule. Hashem instructed them to acquire and designate the lamb on the tenth of Nissan and to wait until the fourteenth of Nissan to slaughter it. What was the significance of this unique requirement?
The Meshech Chochmah explains that in order for the Jewish people to receive the Torah and fulfill their mission in the world they would need to become an organized and disciplined nation; distinguished in their customs, behavior, and faithful to their leaders. Hashem understood that the people had not yet achieved this stature. Their hearts were filled with an intense urge and excitement in anticipation of their imminent redemption from the horrors of Egyptian persecution. However, in order for a society to succeed it needs to operate with intellect and discipline, not raw impulse and passion. Their enthusiasm to finally gain their freedom and leave Egyptian servitude could cause them to depart in disorder and disarray.
As part of their preparation for nationhood, Hashem wanted to teach them an essential lesson. He instructed them to begin their preparation for redemption four days prior to its conception. The acquisition of the lamb, four days early, would increase their excitement and enthusiasm for the impending exodus on the fourteenth of Nissan. Notwithstanding their burning desire for freedom, they would have to wait four days following the acquisition of the lamb before they could offer it. This would train them to contain their impulsiveness and develop disciplined behavior. Their redemption was the outcome of orderly and respectable conduct rather than frenzy. In so doing, Hashem taught the people an invaluable truth. Discipline and orderliness, rather than impulsiveness, brings happiness and freedom.
Freedom From Selfishness
Another unique aspect of the first Pesach offering was that the redemption of the people depended upon everyone fulfilling the mitzvah of the Pesach offering. No one was allowed to leave Egypt until every single Jewish family attained a lamb and fulfilled the mitzvah. However, since the vast majority of the people were still impoverished; how would they be able to afford to purchase a whole lamb? Our sages teach us that despite the fact that most of the people were poor; some Jews managed to overcome the economic oppression of Egypt. Hashem told Moshe to instruct these wealthy Jews to give money to those who did not have so that they too could buy lambs for their families.
Emigration is always an arduous task. When people are confronted with this challenge it is essential to secure every bit of one’s financial resources because it is impossible to know all of the possible challenges that the move to a foreign land may present. This was especially true of the exodus from Egypt when the Jewish people had no idea how they would be able to survive the journeys that they faced.
By instructing the wealthy to provide money for the poor people to acquire the animals for the Pesach offering, Hashem taught them another important lesson. We should make sure that the drive for personal freedom and security does not blind us from the needs of those who are less privileged. Our personal well-being depends upon facilitating equal opportunity for the good and welfare of others. Even though the survival instinct is a necessary reality, Hashem instructed them to rise above their natural inclination to preserve wealth for the sake of personal security and augment it with actions that will assure welfare and security for others who are less capable.
Celebrating Freedom
“Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread; but the first day you shall put away leaven out of your houses; for whosoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.†(12:15)
The Jewish people received this commandment prior to leaving Egypt. In light of the fact that they knew that they would gain their freedom on the first day of Pesach; communication of the laws concerning the first day was understandable. However, since at that time no one knew that the following six days would climax with the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea and subsequent destruction of the entire Egyptian army; why did Hashem inform them of the laws concerning the rest of the six days of the holiday prior to them having any significance?
The Meshech Chochmah explains that despite the fact that the destruction of the Egyptian enemies had not yet occurred and the remaining six days of Pesach had no significance, nonetheless, by introducing the laws of the entire seven days of Pesach Hashem teaches the Jewish people an important lesson. The observance of Pesach is a time to celebrate our redemption, not an occasion to celebrate victory and revenge.
Many nations have days of festivity that commemorate their war victories over their enemies. This is not appropriate in the eyes of Hashem. “Rejoice not over the demise of your enemy.†(Mishle-Proverbs) Hashem takes no pleasure in the destruction of the wicked. The celebration of Pesach is a time to celebrate our freedom, not the destruction of the wicked. This is the reason why the full Hallel is recited only on the first day of Pesach. On the remaining six day it is recited only in an abridged form in order to remind us not to rejoice over the death of our enemies.
“I also will give thanks unto You even unto Your truth, O my G-d; I will sing praises unto You with the harp, O Thou Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing praises to You; and my soul, which You have redeemed. My tongue also shall express Your righteousness all the day; for they are ashamed, for they are abashed, that seek my hurt.†(Psalms 71: 22-24)
When King David expressed his gratitude and thanks to Hashem for his redemption, he rejoiced with the harp and his lips – external expressions of joy. However, when acknowledging his salvation from the evil actions of his enemies he did not sing with his lips and a harp. He expressed them [without song] with his tongue. The use of his tongue only, rather than his lips that are an external part of the body, conveys the idea that King David’s acknowledgement and gratitude for the demise of his enemies was a private affair, not a public celebration.