Weekly Dvar Torah: Embracing the Power of Moshiach, Navigating Life’s Ups and Downs

Passover is more than just a holiday; it’s a journey—a journey from darkness to light, from bondage to freedom. As we gather around the Seder table, retelling the story of our ancestors’ liberation from Egypt, we’re not just recounting history; we’re reliving it. And as we partake of the symbolic foods and rituals, we’re not just going through the motions; we’re connecting with something deeper, something profound.

But what happens when the holiday ends? What happens when we pack away the Passover dishes and return to our everyday lives? We find ourselves abruptly thrust back into the routine of everyday life, as if the spiritual high of the holiday has come crashing down. But in reality there’s more to it than meets the eye.

Passover, unlike other holidays, is a time of leaps and bounds, a time of breaking free from our usual constraints and limitations. It’s a time when we are called upon to rise above the mundane and embrace the miraculous. And yet, even as we soar to new spiritual heights, we’re reminded that our journey doesn’t end when the holiday ends. In fact, it’s just beginning.

Central to the Passover experience is the obligation to see oneself as if personally liberated from Egypt, a commandment reiterated in both the Haggadah and the teachings of the Alter Rebbe in Tanya. This injunction extends beyond the confines of the holiday, urging us to embrace our freedom on a daily basis, to transcend the boundaries of our existence, and to connect with the Essence of G-d.

But how do we connect with something so intangible, so elusive? How do we bridge the gap between the spiritual and the mundane? The answer lies in connecting with the Essence of G-d.

The Essence of G-d is something beyond our comprehension, beyond our understanding. It’s the force that animates the universe, the source of all life and all existence. And yet, it’s also something deeply personal, something that resonates within each and every one of us.

When Moshiach comes, we’re told, we will connect with the Essence of G-d in a way that we can’t even begin to imagine. It will be a time of unprecedented revelation, a time when the barriers between the physical and the spiritual will be torn down once and for all.

But until that day comes, we’re left to navigate the ups and downs of everyday life, to find meaning and purpose in the midst of the mundane. And yet, even in the most ordinary of moments, we’re reminded that we’re connected to something extraordinary, something transcendent.

That’s why celebrating Moshiach on the eighth day of Passover is so important. By eating Matza and drinking wine, we bridge the gap between the spiritual and the physical, infusing our mundane actions with transcendent meaning. This act of communion with the Divine Essence imbues us with the confidence to navigate life’s challenges, secure in the knowledge that we are connected to the Boundless Power of G-d.

Indeed, the journey from the spiritual heights of Passover to the mundane realities of everyday life is not a regression but a progression. It is an opportunity to integrate the spiritual insights gleaned during the holiday into the fabric of our existence, to infuse our daily routines with purpose and meaning. As we embrace the power of Moshiach, we are empowered to transcend the limitations of the natural world and to journey towards a future of ultimate redemption, where we will be united with the Essence of G-d for eternity.

Have a Spiritual Mundane High of a Shabbos,
Gut Shabbos

Rabbi Yosef Katzman