Breslev Tsfat

three simple rules for the pesach seder

1. Don't get angry or irritated at anything!!! That means when a child (or someone else) spills something, don't lose control, rather give a big blessing. Sit calmly at the table and ensure that everyone has a place. Maintain a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere, since this is the point from where the entire blessing of the evening flows. Seder night is a very great event filled with tremendous shefa. The Yetzer Hara would like nothing better than to steal it away from us if we get angry. We should conduct ourselves with joy and goodness of heart.

2. Minimize your speech. Prepare yourself in advance and say only what is necessary and directly related to the seder. If it is unrelated to the seder or you don't need to say it, don't.

3. Be simple. We need to be 100% confident that simply sitting down to eat matza and maror because this is what the Torah commands us to do, includes all possible mystical intentions and is a "seder d'oraita," fulfilling our obligation completely. This CERTAINLY brings the geula closer.

This Pesach seder, everyone in Am Yisrael should be blessed with exactly what they need, including the right frame of mind.

Heard today from Rav Ephraim Kenig, shlita, in a special pre-Pesach message.

a short word about karpas

What is karpas? A little piece of vegetable, certainly not a full meal. We eat only a small piece, less than a k'zayit in order not to be obligated to recite an after blessing. Its small size hints to poverty.

Yet just a month earlier, we also see the word karpas in Megillat Esther, but in a completely different context. We read how King Achashverosh hosted a feast for everyone in his palace, amidst extraordinary wealth with all of his royal furnishings and vessels (Esther 1:6). Here we see karpas as something very rich. So how is this explained in contrast to the poor karpas of Pesach?

In Likutey Halachot, Reb Noson explains that rich and poor are both from HaShem. The very same karpas can be the most rich or the most poor. One moment it is one way, the next moment, another way. It is all in God's hands, He can convert rich to poor and vice versa. This is why we hear about karpas last month as well as this month. It shows God's unity and oneness, since both conditions come from Him.

This is true in all contrasting situations. It is all one. During Pesach, God brought out an entire people from inescapable slavery to complete freedom.

wishing a redemptive pesach to the entire jewish people

 

miracles are waiting to happen this month

The entire month of Nisan, we are surrounded by miracles waiting to happen: miracles that can save or rescue us from any sort of problem or impending misfortune. These potential miracles are right next to us, we only need to prepare the vessels to receive them. How do we do this? Talk to God, whether in your own words or formal prayer, since the actual words of prayer create the vessels to receive these miracles. This is called shefa.

Happy is the person who makes the most out of every single moment during this special time, including the many events that occur in this month. There is the Shabbat just before Pesach, called Shabbat HaGadol, followed by bedikat chametz (the checking for chametz), and then the burning of it. Immediately afterwards, there is the evening before Pesach called Erev Pesach, as well as Pesach itself, filled with mitzvot and all sorts of good and beautiful customs. Every single one of these events possesses special significance and power.

Be aware and make the most of them!

we are in the hebrew month of nisan

During the entire month of Nisan, we can rightfully say, "Chodesh Tov" since according to the Torah, the entire month has the status of Rosh Chodesh. The Torah states,  "This month will be to you the head of all months, 'Rosh Chodeshim.'" This means the entire month has all of the special qualities normally present only on Rosh Chodesh itself, a day of profound renewal and festivity.

rosh hashanah in nisan?

We are now at the beginning of the year. The Torah states that Pesach falls in the "first month." Thus our year really begins in the Hebrew month of Nisan, meaning that Rosh Chodesh Nisan, the first day of the month, is in fact Rosh HaShanah. Yet Nisan's Rosh HaShanah is without the tension and pressure of the Rosh HaShanah in the month of Tishrei. For example, there is no shofar blowing or special mystical intentions of the Arizal, the master of Kabbalah who lived in Tsfat 500 years ago. However, just as Tishrei has ten days of repentance between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, we should also consider ourselves in ten days of repentance now in Nisan as well, and take full advantage of the force of these days.

In the Gemara, Rabbi Eliezer says the world was created in Tishrei and is thus counted as the beginning of the year. On the other hand, Rabbi Yehoshua says the world was created in Nisan, and thus begins the year. The Arizal says they are both correct, since God actually created the world once in Nisan in thought, and once in Tishrei in actuality. It is clear from this that God's thoughts have special importance.

hebrew shiur: the unique shefa in the month of nisan