Pesach at Chabad

Dear Friend,

Pesach, the Season of Our Liberation, comes around every year not merely to remind us of the Liberation of our ancestors from Egyptian bondage, but also to inspire us to strive for a greater measure of self-liberation from all limitations and distractions which impede a Jew from his free exercise of Yiddishkeit in the everyday life. this is the meaning of the highly significant passage in the Haggadah.

"In every generation a Jew should see himself as though he personally has been liberated from Mitzrayim."

Along with the chametz-ridding, shopping, menu-planning, must come the breaking out of Egypt. While G‑d took us out of Egypt, He did not take Egypt out of us.

Jews and Judaism have survived the millennia and outlived powerful nations. Yet there is a small voice inside that makes us feel unworthy, inhibited, uncomfortable, and confused about who we are. this voice would have us believe we should blend in with those around us who seem bigger an more powerful. This is the Egypt that must be left behind each year. The Egypt left behind last year gave way to a new and improved Egypt that we can exit through the preparations for and the experience of the Seder. We leave Egypt by internalizing the messages of Pesach: eating the matzah, drinking the wine, reading the Haggadah.

Please visit ochabad.com/passover to discover more.

So let's get it right. Do it. Let's be and feel free.

Sincerely,

Rabbi and Shani Katzman