The word SEDER has become the mantra these days because it is the most important part of our Pesach celebration. The true meaning of the word Seder, as observed in our homes, is to emphasize the orderly fashion in which the rituals and symbolic foods are partaken during the course of the meal, as we retell the story of the Exodus from Egypt.
With this thought in mind, I begin to envision how magnificent life would be, if we could create a life for ourselves that diligently reflects a Seder of Life. Living life in a Seder, in an orderly fashion, emphasizes a more generous nature to others,
a life of honesty and a life where ethics reigns supreme.
I am sure we will all remove the Chametz from our homes and similarly, it may be an opportune time to remove the Chametz from our hearts and from our lives - the Chametz that clogs our lives with disrespect, with anger and, especially, the Chametz that is in our eyes, that does not 'Fargin' what our neighbors posses.
As the Rav so often said, that the ליל הסדר,is a special night emphasizing that the Jewish people are a קהילת חסד, a people of mercy,a people of kindness, a people of selflessness. This Chesed is based on the feeling of Jewish solidarity. In fact the Rav spoke of the redemption as a time when the Jewish People became an עם, a term derived from the word "IM", "being with". With the Exodus, the Jews became an עם, expressive of a readiness to share and show an extreme sense of compassion. What an amazing transformation took place at יציאת מצרים, and one that always needs to be emulated.
With all the dehumanizing influences at work in our society, it is all the more vital that we remember the teachings of our tradition, which underscores the uniqueness of each of us. Everyone deserves the respect and the recognition that comes with being the צלם אלוקים, a unique human being. It is well to realize that "There has been nothing like us, ever, nor will there ever be."
Each individual person is a new entity in the world and is called upon to fulfill his particularity and no one has the right to get in the way while each one fulfills their personal destiny.
As we will read in our Hagadah, בכול דור ודור, in each of us, all past centuries coalesce. In each of us all the future centuries have their beginnings. In each of us are found very special endowments.
As I continue this trend of thought I remember reading of the Great Ishbitz Rebbe, Reb Yaakov Leiner who asked, "Why does the search for Chametz take place at night? Why not in the morning which is a more obvious time to search for something?" He continued, "Why are we instructed to use a candle not a lamp?"
The Rebbe answered, "When we search, we are really doing more than just searching for Chametz, we are really searching for our place and for our purpose in this world." In this state of Galut, we often feel that we are in the dark and we cannot easily find our way. However, in the future, the time will come when it will be revealed that even when life appeared dark and we felt lost we were always being guided by Hashem.
In searching for Chametz with a candle at night, we are, both, literally and figuratively providing a glimmer of light amidst the darkness for ourselves. The light reminds us that we are to have a direction in life and that we will always have the light of Hashem showing us the way.
The Yom Tov of Pesach is a time when we can discover more about who we are and what our place is in this world.
With this realization and traveling the road together we will achieve an enriched Seder Of Life.
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