AVODA OF THE WEEK – Hashem Controls the Firstborn
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The Ohev Yisroel1 says in his explanation of Shabbos Hagadol2 : [The Egyptians] would worship the constellation of "tleh" – the head of all the constellations, the b'chor ("firstborn") of all of them. Hashem slew all the b'chorim that were in Egypt, and that was the idea of the smiting of the firstborn…The idea of b'chor, is the first strength and starting point. It is the [level of] Chochma".
We know that in the creation of the natural world, the level of Chochma was the first point of "creation". In regard to the constellations – those realities that have become conduits for energies to enter the world – "Tleh" [literally, a young sheep] – is the fist and starting point of those conduits that comprises within it the essence of all the other constellations.
ENERGY OF THE WEEK – Absorbing the Affect of Pesach
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"Everything that goes up, must come down".
HALACHOS OF THE WEEK – Matzah and Maror
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Basic Halachos
1. In order to properly fulfill the mitzva from the Torah of eating matzah on the night of the 15th of Nisan, it is necessary to measure the shiur of the k'zayis (the amount that is necessary to eat), to be at least equivalent the amount of the volume of half of an egg (Mishna Brurah, siman 486, seif alef, seif-katan alef).
2. It is necessary to eat the k'zayis within the amount of time of "kdei achilas pras"(Mishna Brurah, siman 475, seif vav, seif-katan tes). Ideally this is within two minutes; up until three or four minutes is still acceptable according to most poskim (Piskei Tshuvos, siman 475 ois yud).
3. In regard to maror as well, one should ideally (l'chatchilah) try to have the volume equivalent to that of half an egg. If he is weak and this is difficult for him, he can still fulfill his obligation (b'dieved) by eating an amount that is equivalent to a third of an egg (Mishna Brurah, siman 486, seif alef, seif-katan alef). To facilitate the fulfillment of this mitzva even more, one may chose a type of maror that has a more mild taste like romaine lettuce, and eat it slowly throughout the amount of time of "kdei achilas pras"1 "(Mishna Brurah, siman 473, seif-katan mem-alef and mem-gimel).
- In regard to maror d'rabbonon, this can be up until 5 minutes (Piskei Tshuvos, siman 475 ois yud) (some say until 9 minutes). ↩
AVODA OF THE WEEK – Reconnect to the source
Connect back to the source
[For Halachos of Biyur Chametz – see HALACHA OF THE WEEK – March 25/09 ;For Halachos of Eating Matzah and Maror at the Seder – see HALACHA OF THE WEEK – April 2/09.] ————–
The Message of the Sun is the Message of the Seder
The sun's coming back to its original point of starting – exactly on the day of Erev Pesach in this unique hashgacha that Hashem has given our generation – holds for us an amazing message. In actuality the message of the sun's returning to its point of origin, is really the same message that we want to give over at the seder. At the seder, we seek to impart the tenets of all our most basic beliefs to our children. It's that special time that the Torah itself has designated to give over the story of our heritage to the next generation. And Chazal through their ordinances, have added the entire dimention that they knew would be the most conducive to planting the seed of Jewish faith into the pure hearts of Jewish children.
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Bs"d by Rabbi Nachum Chaimowitz Another statement that one should just never say: 3. Never compare yourselves to any other couple. The person that Hashem has introduced and ultimately united you with, is someone who is exactly what you need in order for you to reach your highest level of completeness. Realize that [...]