The Miracle of Freedom

The Miracle of Freedom

“…Who redeemed us and redeemed our ancestors from Egypt…” (The Haggadah) אֲשֶׁר גְּאָלָנוּ וְגָאַל אֶת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם – הגדה של פסח The Torah instructs us to relate to our children in every generation that, “G-d acted on my behalf when I went out of Egypt” (Shemos 13:8). This indicates that our freedom today is not only the result of G-d’s redemption of our ancestors; […]

April 8, 2020 at 2:54 AM 0 comments

Why is the Wicked Son at the Seder?

Why is the Wicked Son at the Seder?

“…The wicked one, what does he say? “What is this worship to you?” …Say to him: “It is for this that G-d did for me when I left Egypt;” i.e., ‘for me,’ but not for him. If he had been there, he would not have been redeemed…” (The Haggadah) רָשָׁע מָה הוּא אוֹמֵר? מָה הָעֲבוֹדָה הַזּאֹת לָכֶם..וֶאֱמוֹר לוֹ בַּעֲבוּר זֶה […]

April 8, 2020 at 2:15 AM 0 comments

The Two-Headed Year

The Two-Headed Year

“…This month shall be to you the head of the months; to you it shall be the first of the months of the year…” – Shemos 12:2 הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם רֹאשׁ חֳדָשִׁים רִאשׁוֹן הוּא לָכֶם לְחָדְשֵׁי הַשָּׁנָה – שמות יב, ב The Jewish calendar year has two starting points. Rosh Hashana, on the 1st of Tishrei, marks the start of […]

March 22, 2020 at 2:20 AM 0 comments

The Unlucky Child

The Unlucky Child

“…The Torah speaks of four children: One is wise, one is wicked, one is simple and one does not know how to ask…” – The Haggadah כְּנֶגֶד אַרְבָּעָה בָנִים דִּבְּרָה תוֹרָה: אֶחָד חָכָם. וְאֶחָד רָשָׁע. וְאֶחָד תָּם. וְאֶחָד שֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לִשְׁאוֹל – הגדה של פסח In four places, the Torah instructs us to relate the story and mitzvos of Pesach […]

April 13, 2019 at 2:39 AM 0 comments

The Holiday of Faith

The Holiday of Faith

“…In every generation, a person is obligated to regard himself as if he had come out of Egypt…” – The Haggadah בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר חַיָּב אָדָם לִרְאוֹת אֶת עַצְמוֹ כְּאִלּוּ הוּא יָצָא מִמִּצְרָיִם – הגדה של פסח One of the most remarkable aspects of Bnei Yisrael’s exodus from Egypt is the simple trust that they had in Moshe and in […]

April 11, 2019 at 3:20 AM 0 comments

The last Passover – Great Neck, NY

The last Passover – Great Neck, NY
March 5, 2019 at 2:24 PM Comments are Disabled

What’s Behind the Question?

What’s Behind the Question?

The Torah speaks of four children: One is wise, one is wicked, one is simple and one does not know how to ask. …What does the wicked one say? “What is this service to you?” (The Haggadah) כְּנֶגֶד אַרְבָּעָה בָנִים דִּבְּרָה תוֹרָה: אֶחָד חָכָם. וְאֶחָד רָשָׁע. וְאֶחָד תָּם. וְאֶחָד שֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לִשְׁאוֹל . . רָשָׁע מָה הוּא אוֹמֵר: מָה הָעֲבוֹדָה […]

March 27, 2018 at 2:52 AM 0 comments

Ensuring our Freedom

Ensuring our Freedom

“…If the holy one, blessed be he, had not taken our fathers out of Egypt, then we, our children, and our children’s children would have remained enslaved to pharaoh in Egypt…” – The Haggadah וְאִלּוּ לֹא הוֹצִיא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ מִמִּצְרָיִם, הֲרֵי אָנוּ וּבָנֵינוּ וּבְנֵי בָנֵינוּ מְשֻׁעְבָּדִים הָיִינוּ לְפַרְעֹה בְּמִצְרָיִם – הגדה של פסח We acknowledge in the Haggadah […]

April 9, 2017 at 8:59 AM 0 comments

The Shabbos That Made It Big – Shabbos Hagadol

The Shabbos That Made It Big – Shabbos Hagadol

Shabbos HaGadol was the beginning of the Redemption and the miracles (Shulchan Aruch Harav, Orach Chaim 430:4) בשבת הגדול היתה התחלת הגאולה והנסים – שלחן ערוך אדה”ז סת”ל סק”ד A number of miraculous events are attributed to the Shabbos that preceded the exodus from Egypt, earning the Shabbos before Pesach the title Shabbos Hagadol, the Great Shabbos. Yet the Alter […]

April 7, 2017 at 7:11 AM 0 comments

How to prepare for Pesach

How to prepare for Pesach

Every year we go crazy before the holiday of Pesach (Passover) cleaning every speck of dust thinking it’s Chometz (Leaven). The real Pesach cleaning is an internal cleaning of our own Chometz, our Ego. So how do I do that?       Part 1     Part 2          

March 20, 2017 at 1:01 AM 0 comments

Pesach: What Spring Teaches You about Winter

Pesach: What Spring Teaches You about Winter

 The Torah commands us to structure the calendar in a manner that ensures a spring arrival for the 14th of Nissan, the day Pesach begins. The emphasis placed on the timing of this holiday for the springtime highlights the uplifting message conveyed by the season of spring. During the months of winter, there are almost no visible signs of plant […]

March 19, 2017 at 2:00 AM 0 comments

Dayeinu will Not Suffice

Dayeinu will Not Suffice

“…If He had brought us out from Egypt and had not carried out judgments against them, it would have sufficed for us!….” (The Haggadah) אִלּוּ הוֹצִיאָנוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם, וְלֹא עָשָׂה בָהֶם שְׁפָטִים דַּיֵּנוּ… – הגדה של פסח It is our custom to recite the fourteen stanzas of the Dayeinu hymn without interruption, discussing its commentary and explanation only beforehand or afterward. […]

March 18, 2017 at 2:32 AM 0 comments

How To Prepare For Pesach (Passover) The Right Way – Part 1

How To Prepare For Pesach (Passover) The Right Way – Part 1

Every year we go crazy before the holiday of Pesach (Passover) cleaning every speck of dust thinking it’s Chometz (Leaven). The real Pesach cleaning is an internal cleaning of our own Chometz, our Ego. So how do I do that?        

May 6, 2016 at 5:40 PM 0 comments

Don’t Make Yourself Too Comfortable

Don’t Make Yourself Too Comfortable

“…And he went down to Egypt” (Devarim 26:5)—forced by Divine decree…” –  (The Haggadah) וַיֵּרֶד מִצְרַיְמָה אָנוּס עַל פִּי הַדִּבּוּר – הגדה של פסח The Haggadah asserts that Yaakov descended to Egypt against his will, compelled by Divine decree. This statement seems self-contradictory. Yaakov, as we know, was devoted to G-d with all his being. If he knew that G-d […]

April 26, 2016 at 3:49 AM 0 comments

Courage Works Miracles – Shabbos Hagadol

Courage Works Miracles – Shabbos Hagadol

The Shabbos before Pesach is called Shabbos Hagadol, the great Shabbos, because a great miracle happened on this day. (Tur, Orach Chaim 530) שבת שלפני הפסח קורין אותו שבת הגדול והטעם לפי שנעשה בו נס גדול – טור או”ח סתק”ל One of the miracles attributed to Shabbos Hagadol is recorded in the Midrash (cited in Machzor Vitri 259 and elsewhere): […]

April 14, 2016 at 4:59 PM 0 comments

Ensuring our Freedom

Ensuring our Freedom

“…If the Holy One, blessed be He, had not taken our fathers out of Egypt, then we, our children, and our children’s children would have remained enslaved to Pharaoh in Egypt…” – The Haggadah וְאִלּוּ לֹא הוֹצִיא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ מִמִּצְרָיִם, הֲרֵי אָנוּ וּבָנֵינוּ וּבְנֵי בָנֵינוּ מְשֻׁעְבָּדִים הָיִינוּ לְפַרְעֹה בְּמִצְרָיִם – הגדה של פסח We acknowledge in the […]

March 30, 2015 at 3:01 AM 0 comments