By the Grace of G‑d
Motzoei Shabbos Kodesh, Vayakheil-Pekudei,
25 Adar, Mevorchim Chodesh Nissan, Parshas HaChodesh, 5742
Brooklyn, N.Y.
To the Sons and Daughters of Our People Israel, Everywhere,
G‑d bless you all!
Greeting and Blessing:
Coming from the days of Purim, we turn our attention to the preparations for Pesach; especially when it is already after Shabbos Mevorchim Chodesh Nissan, Shabbos Parshas HaChodesh, and one begins to feel the presence and influence of the spirit of the Korban Pesach and Yetzias Mitzrayim, about which we read in the special Torah portion this Shabbos.
Our Sages of blessed memory connect the Geulo of Purim with the Geulo of Pesach, although the two deliverances were quite different. Yet the two also have certain features in common. One of them is the emphatic imperative to remember and observe these days to all posterity. Thus, in regard to Pesach the Torah declares (in Parshas HaChodesh): “And this day shall be unto you for a remembrance . . . unto your generations.” Similarly, in regard to Purim it is written: “And these days shall be remembered and done in every generation and generation.”
It has often been emphasized that a remembrance in Torah, as in Jewish life in general, is not meant for the purpose of merely recalling an important event, and the like; but the real purpose of it is to learn from the event that happened in the past—to learn, especially, specific practical lessons for today and tomorrow.
In this respect, too, there are points of instruction that are common to Pesach and Purim, and one of these will be spotlighted here.
The Mitzva of Korban Pesach required that every man individually take a lamb (or kid) for an offering, for himself and his household. In complying with this Mitzva, each person, each family, each chavurah (group) acted as separate entities, distinct from the whole Jewish people—each a world in itself. But at the same time they were all unified within “the whole congregation of Israel” which had received the same Divine commandment, to carry out the same Mitzva, at the same time, in the same manner, as emphasized again: “The whole assembly of the congregation of Israel,” all unified in the performance of a Mitzva that is connected with Yetzias Mitzraim—the Geulo from the first Golus, when all Jews came out of the Golus together as one nation, and came out triumphantly;—the first Geulo which is also the harbinger of the ultimate and complete Geulo, the Geulo from the present and last Golus.
Motzoei Shabbos Kodesh, Vayakheil-Pekudei,
25 Adar, Mevorchim Chodesh Nissan, Parshas HaChodesh, 5742
Brooklyn, N.Y.
To the Sons and Daughters of Our People Israel, Everywhere,
G‑d bless you all!
Greeting and Blessing:
Coming from the days of Purim, we turn our attention to the preparations for Pesach; especially when it is already after Shabbos Mevorchim Chodesh Nissan, Shabbos Parshas HaChodesh, and one begins to feel the presence and influence of the spirit of the Korban Pesach and Yetzias Mitzrayim, about which we read in the special Torah portion this Shabbos.
Our Sages of blessed memory connect the Geulo of Purim with the Geulo of Pesach, although the two deliverances were quite different. Yet the two also have certain features in common. One of them is the emphatic imperative to remember and observe these days to all posterity. Thus, in regard to Pesach the Torah declares (in Parshas HaChodesh): “And this day shall be unto you for a remembrance . . . unto your generations.” Similarly, in regard to Purim it is written: “And these days shall be remembered and done in every generation and generation.”
It has often been emphasized that a remembrance in Torah, as in Jewish life in general, is not meant for the purpose of merely recalling an important event, and the like; but the real purpose of it is to learn from the event that happened in the past—to learn, especially, specific practical lessons for today and tomorrow.
In this respect, too, there are points of instruction that are common to Pesach and Purim, and one of these will be spotlighted here.
The Mitzva of Korban Pesach required that every man individually take a lamb (or kid) for an offering, for himself and his household. In complying with this Mitzva, each person, each family, each chavurah (group) acted as separate entities, distinct from the whole Jewish people—each a world in itself. But at the same time they were all unified within “the whole congregation of Israel” which had received the same Divine commandment, to carry out the same Mitzva, at the same time, in the same manner, as emphasized again: “The whole assembly of the congregation of Israel,” all unified in the performance of a Mitzva that is connected with Yetzias Mitzraim—the Geulo from the first Golus, when all Jews came out of the Golus together as one nation, and came out triumphantly;—the first Geulo which is also the harbinger of the ultimate and complete Geulo, the Geulo from the present and last Golus.