A Message From the Rabbi
Purim Purim Lanu Pesah En La Mano

Rabbi Simon Benzaquen

So soon it will be here—Whether You’re Ready or Not! Undoubtedly, we will find out soon enough, how much work there is in order to prepare for Pesah; how much cleaning, shopping, baking and cooking there is. We will find out about the extra expenses of Pesah food and for new items and utensils that might need to be purchased for the holiday. Nevertheless, we do what we must.

Ultimately there is an overriding factor for most of us and it will all be worth it. And that is the simple meaning of the saying "Purim, Purim lanu Pesah en la mano" that we have to begin preparing for Pesah as soon as Purim is celebrated. But in my humble opinion this aphorism is a deeper thought into the celebration of the festivals and holidays. The Jewish people have been witnesses, have seen miracles, one redemption after another, even before the first one is over. That is why we think about Pesah even while we are engaged with the celebration of Purim, We have to realize that as we celebrate one thing we will know that something else will come up that will throw us back to square one when we are worried about our stability in our lives as individuals and as a people. Bechol Dor Vador Omedim Alenu Le'Chalotenu.

In every generation we face those who want to do away with us. But Ha Kodesh Baruch Hu Matzilenu Miyadam The Holy One, blessed be He, saves us from their hands.

The most important thing in all this is to condition ourselves to know that Hashem is our protector. If we have faith in him, we will be alright. As we celebrate one thing, one victory over our enemies, soon somebody else will rise, but we will prevail with Hashem's help and the proof is - all our Holidays! They remind us that we have what no other nation has "Hashem" who through a promise to our forefathers, will always protect us. We simply need to acknowledge Him with actions that speak louder and stronger than words - by celebrating the Holidays, especially Pesah, marking our redemption, that which gave us independence from tyranny, and the moment that we became a nation with the promise of Sinai and the revelation.

Pesah is also a time when we gather with our families and friends to read the Haggadah, ask and answer questions, and enjoy the pleasure of being together. There is the added pleasure to know that we are not alone, when family and friends want to be with us. For many of us adults, this is an opportunity to be transported back in time to the sweetness of our youth, when we were in the care of our parents and/or grandparents, when innocence was part of who we were. As adults, we are now in the driver’s seat with our children and family as we attempt to do our best to make it a memorable Pesah for them so that they, too, can learn and remember the value of family traditions so that the chain of transmission continues. In time the next generation will appreciate what we do for them as we appreciate what the past generation did for us.

On Pesah, we celebrate the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. This episode in the life and history of our people has become the immortal epic of Israel's history. Our liturgy daily contains references to this historic event. The Kiddush that we recite after we usher in the Shabbath and Yom Tov recalls the glory of that momentous occasion.

There are five mitzvot (commandments) to be fulfilled at the Passover Seder - two Biblical (from the Torah) and three Rabbinical (from our Sages). The two mitzvot from the Torah are: to eat matza ("In the evening you shall eat unleavened bread" - Exodus 12:18), and to tell the story of our exodus from Egypt ("And you shall relate to your son [the story of the exodus] on this day" - Exodus 13:9).

The rabbis added the mitzvot of drinking the four cups of wine, eating marror (bitter herbs) and reciting Hallel (Psalms of praise for the Almighty), as a thank you for the liberation of our People from the bondage of Egypt. During Pesah the Hallel is chanted both in synagogue and at the seder table service at home.

During the times of the Temple in Jerusalem, there were 16 additional mitzvot associated with the Pesah offering. All of these mitzvot (commandments) are to help us re-experience the bitter times of the servitude in Egypt and to feel and strengthen our sense of freedom and redemption from Egypt. The matza is called "lehem ani" - the bread of the poor man and "lehem oni" - the bread of affliction. In a play on pronunciation, the Sages also called it the bread over which many things are answered.

It has the dual symbolism of representing our affliction and our redemption. The four cups of wine represent the four different terms for our redemption in the Torah (Exodus 6:6-7). Wine is the drink of free people! Bitter herbs represent affliction. And Hallel is our thanks to the Almighty for our redemption and freedom. Passover is the holiday of freedom ie: to thank G-d Almighty for all that - physical as well as spiritual freedom.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish our beloved SBH membership Moadim Lesimhah - Pesah Alegre - Y Kasher.

Rabbi Simon & Cecilia Benzaquen
and Family