On both nights of the Seider, we read the Haggadah. Yet, how many of us really view the words of the Haggadah as applying to our daily lives?
The Haggadah says, “Yaakov our father did not go down to settle permanently in Egypt, but merely to sojourn there, as it is said, ‘And they said to Pharaoh, We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for the sheep of your servants, for the famine is severe in the Land of Canaan. And now, may your servants please live in the Land of Goshen.’”[1]
Why did Yaakov ask Pharaoh to let us live in the Land of Goshen? Rashi[2] says that it was in order to establish a house of study [i.e. a Beis Medrash].
We know that “The events of the forefathers are signs for [what would happen to] their children.”[3] Approximately 200 years ago, Reb Chaim Volozhin told Reb Dovid, “…You should know, my son, that the day will come when the pillars of European Jewry will topple, when the yeshivos will be destroyed and uprooted. However, they will be reborn in the exile of America, the final stop of the Jewish people before the arrival of Moshiach. The American exile will be the tenth[4] and final exile of Torah, following those of Babylon, North Africa, Egypt, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Poland and Lithuania.”[5] [6]
The Haggadah began with stating that, “Yaakov did not go down to settle permanently in Egypt, but merely to sojourn there.”
The words did not go down in Hebrew are שׁלֺא יָרַד. However, the word יָרַד refers to יְרִידָה, which has a negative connotation to a spiritual decline or descent. As the saying goes, “If you are not going upward then you are automatically falling downward.”[7] After living in America for so many years, our nation has undergone a יְרִידָה, spiritual descent. As Rav Yitzchak Berkowitz says, “… Our generation is faced with moral and spiritual challenges that no generation before could have envisioned in their worst nightmares…”[8]
Ben Shapiro tells us our nation’s reality:[9]
“American Jews are the least ‘religious group’ in America. Only 41 percent say that their religion is important to them in their daily life, according to a December 2012 Gallup poll. Only 34 percent said they attend religious services at least monthly; compared with 65 percent of Jews who said they attended religious services seldom or never. 22 percent of Jews say they have no religion. According to an October 2013 pupil, just 38 percent of Jews say their Jewish identity has anything to do with the Judaism at all. Just 10 percent of Jews identify as Orthodox - people who consider themselves fulfilling the commandments of the Torah…
…What does being Jewish actually mean to most Jews? According to that same pupil, 73 percent of Jews said it was remembering about the holocaust. It isn’t. Just 19 percent said it was about observing Jewish law. Only 28 percent said it was about being part of a Jewish community. Jews, in other words, are not religious… Most Jews aren’t Jewish in any real sense beyond ethnic identification. They have nothing to do with Torah – the five books of Moses. They have nothing to do with the ethical system posited by biblical Judaism. They have nothing to do with the mitzvos – the commandments…”
The words of Yirmiyahu echo to our generation, “What has BEFALLEN US!?”[10] Still, we shouldn’t be discouraged where our nation is holding today. Why? Because the first time our spiritual descent happened was in Egypt. As we say every Thursday morning, “I removed the burden [of slavery] from his shoulders; his hands shall be removed from the cooking pot.”[11]
Rav Schwab zt”l[12] explains:
“Hashem was telling Klal Yisrael to forgo the “fleshpot” of Egypt. What ‘fleshpot’ are we talking about? The Gemara[13] says that from Rosh Hashanah before the Nissan of yetzias Mitzrayim, the enforcement of the labor decrees and slavery against Bnei Yisrael were suspended due to plagues. During this six month period, our forefathers lived a relaxed and good life in Egypt. Having been spared the ravages of the ten plagues against the Egyptians, which our forefathers experienced as ten miracles, they enjoyed their lives of leisure there, while eating and drinking at ‘the fleshpots of Egypt…’ The purpose of yetzias Mitzrayim was to elevate Bnei Yisrael from the depths of Egyptian culture and society.[14]
Hashem was sending them the following message:
“Your eyes have חָשׁוֹךְ, darkened, from ‘meat and gefilte fish’ - the physicality of Egypt. You have שָׁכַח, forgotten, that the higher purpose of Me taking you out of Egypt was for you to develop a relationship with Me and receive the Torah. In that case, you’ll die in חֺשֶׁךְ, darkness.” As the Gemara[15] relates the word חֺשֶׁךְ, darkness, to eternal death. They forfeited their share in the eternal light of Torah in exchange for the temporal pleasures in Egypt.[16]
After Yaakov descended to Egypt, what did he do there? He planted shittim [acacia] trees in Egypt. When he was on his deathbed, he commanded his sons to bring them up with them when they would depart from Egypt. He told them that Hashem would command them to make a Mishkan of shittim wood in the wilderness and that they should be sure to have the wood at hand.[17]
Yaakov was someone who foresaw into the future.[18] What lesson was Yaakov Avinu teaching us by planting the shittim trees in Egypt? Do not become settled where you are!
Perhaps this is why after the Beis HaMikdosh was destroyed; our Sages ordained that on every joyous occasion, there should be a remembrance of the destruction of the Beis HaMikdosh. This is often referred to as zacheir l’churban…[19] Regarding one’s house, they decreed that a person who has a home should leave a part of the wall without plaster or paint.[20] [21] He should leave a space of one square amah opposite the entrance.[22] [23] One who cannot make it on the wall opposite the entrance should make it as close to that wall as possible. If someone bought a home from another Jew and it does not have a “zecher l’churban” unfinished wall area, the owner must make a “zecher l’churban.”[24] In general, the halachos of zecher l’churban were to prevent us from becoming desensitized in Golus America and to yearn – not mourn – for the redemption.
Continuing, “… Yaakov our father did not… settle permanently in Egypt…” The word לְהִשְׁתַּקֵעַ means to ‘settle permanently’. Another word that comes from לְהִשְׁתַּקֵעַ is תְּקַע as inתְּקַע בְּשׁוֹפָר, sounding the shofar - the ingathering of exiles. When the Anshei Knesses HaGedolah composed Shemonah Esrei, why did they make such blessings like תְּקַע בְּשׁוֹפָר and יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִירְךָ? It was in order instill in us a yearning for redemption and to realize that America is not the final settling ground.
In the words of Rabbi Pinchas Winston, “Exile is not a home. Exile is not redemption, no matter how sweet it is.”[25] Likewise, the Maharal[26] says, “Exile, typifies departure from one’s natural place.” In fact, “The Divine Presence is with us in exile, suffering along with us.”[27] Nowadays, when we hear of Jews being verbally or physically assaulted, we are ‘shocked’ and ‘wonder’ how this could ‘happen’ in the ‘21st century’. Yet, Rashi[28] already told us, “In exile Jews will not be sure of safety from violence. As to their livelihood, they will depend on what they can buy day by day, never being sure that the markets will not be shut down, in general or specifically to Jews.”
Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein said, “In the final war before the coming of the Messiah, all the Jews who fear G-d will survive. G-d will say to them, ‘All those who are removed from the secular surrounding culture, you are Mine!’”[29] As the Novi[30] tells us, “Either choose the G-d of eternity[31] or choose the golden calf;[32] not both!”
With Hashem’s help, may we choose life[33] and merit very soon to see the day when He will redeem us and proclaim, “I am ‘Proud’ that a Few of My children managed to survive the Spiritual Holocaust of Golus America!”[34]
The Haggadah says, “Yaakov our father did not go down to settle permanently in Egypt, but merely to sojourn there, as it is said, ‘And they said to Pharaoh, We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for the sheep of your servants, for the famine is severe in the Land of Canaan. And now, may your servants please live in the Land of Goshen.’”[1]
Why did Yaakov ask Pharaoh to let us live in the Land of Goshen? Rashi[2] says that it was in order to establish a house of study [i.e. a Beis Medrash].
We know that “The events of the forefathers are signs for [what would happen to] their children.”[3] Approximately 200 years ago, Reb Chaim Volozhin told Reb Dovid, “…You should know, my son, that the day will come when the pillars of European Jewry will topple, when the yeshivos will be destroyed and uprooted. However, they will be reborn in the exile of America, the final stop of the Jewish people before the arrival of Moshiach. The American exile will be the tenth[4] and final exile of Torah, following those of Babylon, North Africa, Egypt, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Poland and Lithuania.”[5] [6]
The Haggadah began with stating that, “Yaakov did not go down to settle permanently in Egypt, but merely to sojourn there.”
The words did not go down in Hebrew are שׁלֺא יָרַד. However, the word יָרַד refers to יְרִידָה, which has a negative connotation to a spiritual decline or descent. As the saying goes, “If you are not going upward then you are automatically falling downward.”[7] After living in America for so many years, our nation has undergone a יְרִידָה, spiritual descent. As Rav Yitzchak Berkowitz says, “… Our generation is faced with moral and spiritual challenges that no generation before could have envisioned in their worst nightmares…”[8]
Ben Shapiro tells us our nation’s reality:[9]
“American Jews are the least ‘religious group’ in America. Only 41 percent say that their religion is important to them in their daily life, according to a December 2012 Gallup poll. Only 34 percent said they attend religious services at least monthly; compared with 65 percent of Jews who said they attended religious services seldom or never. 22 percent of Jews say they have no religion. According to an October 2013 pupil, just 38 percent of Jews say their Jewish identity has anything to do with the Judaism at all. Just 10 percent of Jews identify as Orthodox - people who consider themselves fulfilling the commandments of the Torah…
…What does being Jewish actually mean to most Jews? According to that same pupil, 73 percent of Jews said it was remembering about the holocaust. It isn’t. Just 19 percent said it was about observing Jewish law. Only 28 percent said it was about being part of a Jewish community. Jews, in other words, are not religious… Most Jews aren’t Jewish in any real sense beyond ethnic identification. They have nothing to do with Torah – the five books of Moses. They have nothing to do with the ethical system posited by biblical Judaism. They have nothing to do with the mitzvos – the commandments…”
The words of Yirmiyahu echo to our generation, “What has BEFALLEN US!?”[10] Still, we shouldn’t be discouraged where our nation is holding today. Why? Because the first time our spiritual descent happened was in Egypt. As we say every Thursday morning, “I removed the burden [of slavery] from his shoulders; his hands shall be removed from the cooking pot.”[11]
Rav Schwab zt”l[12] explains:
“Hashem was telling Klal Yisrael to forgo the “fleshpot” of Egypt. What ‘fleshpot’ are we talking about? The Gemara[13] says that from Rosh Hashanah before the Nissan of yetzias Mitzrayim, the enforcement of the labor decrees and slavery against Bnei Yisrael were suspended due to plagues. During this six month period, our forefathers lived a relaxed and good life in Egypt. Having been spared the ravages of the ten plagues against the Egyptians, which our forefathers experienced as ten miracles, they enjoyed their lives of leisure there, while eating and drinking at ‘the fleshpots of Egypt…’ The purpose of yetzias Mitzrayim was to elevate Bnei Yisrael from the depths of Egyptian culture and society.[14]
Hashem was sending them the following message:
“Your eyes have חָשׁוֹךְ, darkened, from ‘meat and gefilte fish’ - the physicality of Egypt. You have שָׁכַח, forgotten, that the higher purpose of Me taking you out of Egypt was for you to develop a relationship with Me and receive the Torah. In that case, you’ll die in חֺשֶׁךְ, darkness.” As the Gemara[15] relates the word חֺשֶׁךְ, darkness, to eternal death. They forfeited their share in the eternal light of Torah in exchange for the temporal pleasures in Egypt.[16]
After Yaakov descended to Egypt, what did he do there? He planted shittim [acacia] trees in Egypt. When he was on his deathbed, he commanded his sons to bring them up with them when they would depart from Egypt. He told them that Hashem would command them to make a Mishkan of shittim wood in the wilderness and that they should be sure to have the wood at hand.[17]
Yaakov was someone who foresaw into the future.[18] What lesson was Yaakov Avinu teaching us by planting the shittim trees in Egypt? Do not become settled where you are!
Perhaps this is why after the Beis HaMikdosh was destroyed; our Sages ordained that on every joyous occasion, there should be a remembrance of the destruction of the Beis HaMikdosh. This is often referred to as zacheir l’churban…[19] Regarding one’s house, they decreed that a person who has a home should leave a part of the wall without plaster or paint.[20] [21] He should leave a space of one square amah opposite the entrance.[22] [23] One who cannot make it on the wall opposite the entrance should make it as close to that wall as possible. If someone bought a home from another Jew and it does not have a “zecher l’churban” unfinished wall area, the owner must make a “zecher l’churban.”[24] In general, the halachos of zecher l’churban were to prevent us from becoming desensitized in Golus America and to yearn – not mourn – for the redemption.
Continuing, “… Yaakov our father did not… settle permanently in Egypt…” The word לְהִשְׁתַּקֵעַ means to ‘settle permanently’. Another word that comes from לְהִשְׁתַּקֵעַ is תְּקַע as inתְּקַע בְּשׁוֹפָר, sounding the shofar - the ingathering of exiles. When the Anshei Knesses HaGedolah composed Shemonah Esrei, why did they make such blessings like תְּקַע בְּשׁוֹפָר and יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִירְךָ? It was in order instill in us a yearning for redemption and to realize that America is not the final settling ground.
In the words of Rabbi Pinchas Winston, “Exile is not a home. Exile is not redemption, no matter how sweet it is.”[25] Likewise, the Maharal[26] says, “Exile, typifies departure from one’s natural place.” In fact, “The Divine Presence is with us in exile, suffering along with us.”[27] Nowadays, when we hear of Jews being verbally or physically assaulted, we are ‘shocked’ and ‘wonder’ how this could ‘happen’ in the ‘21st century’. Yet, Rashi[28] already told us, “In exile Jews will not be sure of safety from violence. As to their livelihood, they will depend on what they can buy day by day, never being sure that the markets will not be shut down, in general or specifically to Jews.”
Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein said, “In the final war before the coming of the Messiah, all the Jews who fear G-d will survive. G-d will say to them, ‘All those who are removed from the secular surrounding culture, you are Mine!’”[29] As the Novi[30] tells us, “Either choose the G-d of eternity[31] or choose the golden calf;[32] not both!”
With Hashem’s help, may we choose life[33] and merit very soon to see the day when He will redeem us and proclaim, “I am ‘Proud’ that a Few of My children managed to survive the Spiritual Holocaust of Golus America!”[34]
[1] Bereishis 47:4.
[2] Ibid. 46:28 “לפניו”.
[3] Meshech Chochmah, Lech Lecha “לקבר בשיבה טובה”. Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi said that Jews should relate the weekly Torah portion to events in their own lives, right then and there. He called this “living with the times.”
[4] Ten represents a complete unit. (see The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet by Rabbi Michael L. Munk zt”l, page 128 and Jewish Wisdom In The Numbers by Rabbi Yehoshua Hartman and Osher Chaim Levene, pages 144-151. See links - http://bit.ly/24kqFYo and http://bit.ly/1EJC3hm, http://bit.ly/1YU8R2R and http://bit.ly/1SQhZHl).
[5] Link - http://bit.ly/1ryCZXx
[6] The posuk says, “For there is no pasture for the sheep of your servants, for the famine is severe in the Land of Canaan” (Bereishis 47:4). This posuk can be interpreted as a metaphor. Sheep is a reference to Klal Yisrael. As the Novi says, “My sheep (Israel) have been scattered all over the earth...” (Yechezkeil 34:6). Famine is a reference to Torah. For the Novi says, “… I will send a hunger into the land; not a hunger for bread nor a thirst for water, but to hear the words of Hashem” (Amos 8:11). Klal Yisrael cannot survive in any land without spiritual oases [i.e. batei medrashos or yeshivos] in which Torah is learned.
[7] Real Power by Dovid Lieberman, page 47.
[8] The Six Constant Mitzvos by Rabbi Yehuda Heimowitz and Rabbi Shai Markowitz, page 48.
[9] Link – http://bit.ly/2g1JBLQ
[10] Eichah 5:1.
[11] Tehillim 81:7.
[12] Rav Schwab on Prayer, pages 154-156.
[13] Rosh Hashanah 11b.
[14] CAUTION: If You Are Liberal Please Read At Your Own Discretion. Rav Schwab says, “Mitzrayim was a land devoted to pleasures of the flesh.” Mitzrayim is associated with being called, “,ערות הארץ the land’s nakedness” [i.e. a place of impurity]”. Rashi says, “Any instance of the word ערוה in the Torah expresses ‘exposure,’” i.e., nakedness (Bereishis 42:9 ‘ערות הארץ’). Similarly, America’s clothing industry designers, ימח שמם וזכרם, figure out ways to expose the flesh as much as possible on clothing - for gender appeal purposes.* American society and their youth see only on the surface and are easily fooled by appearances” (see Sotah 47b). Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan says, “The Hebrew word for garment is בֶּגֶד. This has the same root as the word בָּגַד, meaning ‘to rebel’. This indicates that man wears clothing because he originally rebelled against G-d…” (Tzitzith, pages 188-189). The nations of the world rebel against G-d with their clothing. In addition, Chazal tell us that Mitzrayim had sunk to the lowest levels of immoral behavior such as corruption and perversion (Toras Kohanim, Acharei Mos, Parshasa 8, 18:3). As Rabbi Blech of YU said, “America has defined what marriage is… they have traded in the seventh commandment for immorality – only to pay the price of broken homes, unfulfilled fantasies and the grief that comes from breaking the divine laws G-d taught us for achieving true happiness.” This encapsulates what Rav Pam zt”l stated, “The world has not sunk this low since the Dor HaMabul.” (See also Torah Perspectives by Rabbi Mordechai Gifter, pages 31-32).
*Aristotle Onassis – whose mind was in the gutter – said, “If women didn’t exist, all the money in the world would have no meaning.”
*Aristotle Onassis – whose mind was in the gutter – said, “If women didn’t exist, all the money in the world would have no meaning.”
[15] Sanhedrin 24a.
[16] Similarly, when Jewish European immigrants arrived in the New York Harbor, they threw their tefillin overboard into the water. Because tefillin were something for the Old World and here in the New World they didn’t need them anymore. The Chofeitz Chayim foresaw this and wrote a seifer called Nidchei Yisrael, which was a ‘survival guide’ for those Jews leaving Torah Europe and emigrating to places where Torah was not yet firmly based; [i.e. America].
Today, Orthodox Jewry faces a spiritual holocaust. The Orthodox Jew has become so comfortable in America, that he has integrated its value and culture into his family. His children are religious, thank G-d, but they find Judaism totally disenchanting! (See links - http://bit.ly/1SZ6LAm and http://bit.ly/1rrkBz2). They need to know that, “Torah is the real thing.”* As Avos says, “‘… Everything is in it’ (5:22) and everything else – no matter how dazzling it is – is just fake” (Rabbi Frand at the 12th Siyum HaShas).
If someone asked you to define Judaism in three words, what would your response be? Probably the same as Wikipedia’s: “A monotheistic religion.” It isn’t a religion. Then what is it? Avos D’Rebbe Nosson (34:11) says, “‘Torah is called Life,’ as it is stated, ‘It is a tree of life for those who grasp it and its supporters are praiseworthy’” (Mishlei 3:18). In fact, if you type the word lifestyle into google translator, guess what pops up? Orach Chayim, which is what a Jew lives his life according to! Judaism is not a religion, but a lifestyle.
*Chabad made this slogan from Coca-Cola’s 1972 slogan, “Drink Coca-Cola it’s the real thing.”
Today, Orthodox Jewry faces a spiritual holocaust. The Orthodox Jew has become so comfortable in America, that he has integrated its value and culture into his family. His children are religious, thank G-d, but they find Judaism totally disenchanting! (See links - http://bit.ly/1SZ6LAm and http://bit.ly/1rrkBz2). They need to know that, “Torah is the real thing.”* As Avos says, “‘… Everything is in it’ (5:22) and everything else – no matter how dazzling it is – is just fake” (Rabbi Frand at the 12th Siyum HaShas).
If someone asked you to define Judaism in three words, what would your response be? Probably the same as Wikipedia’s: “A monotheistic religion.” It isn’t a religion. Then what is it? Avos D’Rebbe Nosson (34:11) says, “‘Torah is called Life,’ as it is stated, ‘It is a tree of life for those who grasp it and its supporters are praiseworthy’” (Mishlei 3:18). In fact, if you type the word lifestyle into google translator, guess what pops up? Orach Chayim, which is what a Jew lives his life according to! Judaism is not a religion, but a lifestyle.
*Chabad made this slogan from Coca-Cola’s 1972 slogan, “Drink Coca-Cola it’s the real thing.”
[17] The Wisdom in the Hebrew Months by Zvi Ryzman, page 301. See also Rashi to Shemos 25:5 “ועצי שטים”.
[18] See Tamid 32a and Artscroll Tamid 32a, note 15.
[19] See Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 126:1. For more details, see link – http://bit.ly/1SWxrSn
[20] Chayei Adom 137:1.
[21] “One who makes an amah by amah in his house is guaranteed that his house will stand forever and nothing with happen to it” (Kaf Ha’chaim 560:11).
[22] See Mishnah Berurah 560:3.
[23] Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 126:1
[24] Mishnah Berurah 560:1 and Piskei Teshuvos 560:3.
[25] See link – http://bit.ly/1qTZxAX. Similarly, Rebbe Dovid of Sochatchov said, “The comfort we experience in exile is there to make us feel settled and forget that we are still in galus.”
[26] Maharal, Netzach Yisrael 1.
[27] Tosfos to Sukkah 45a, “אני וה-ו”. See also Tanna D’vei Eliyahu Rabbah, Chapter 18.
[28] Devarim 28:66.
[29] Quoted in Redemption Unfolding by Alexander Aryeh Mandelbaum, page 77.
[30] See Malachim I 18:21, for the original wording.
[31] Heed Moshe Rabbeinu’s call, “WHOEVER IS FOR HASHEM, JOIN ME!” (Shemos 32:26).
[32] I.e. materialism. Rav Yitzchak Berkowitz says, “When a person tries to mix spirituality (i.e. Torah) and materialism, he will find out that they constantly compete for his attention…” (The Six Constant Mitzvos by Rabbi Yehuda Heimowitz and Rabbi Shai Markowitz, page 183). When Jews at the turn of the last century wistfully spoke of the goldene medina (golden country), they meant just one place: America. Today, however, we now worship or are enslaved to the goldene eigail (golden calf).
[33] See Rashi to Devarim 30:15-18 “את החיים ואת הטוב” and 19 “וברחת בחיים”.
[34] The original wording is actually a slogan, “The few, the proud, the Marines.”