THE SECRET TO A FIERY PESACH SEDER
Tzav - Pesach
One of the concepts discussed in Kabbalah is the idea of Isarusa Deleila - an awakening from Above and Isarusa Deletata - an awakening from below.
Isarusa Deleila are the moments of inspiration which we experience from time-to-time, where through no effort of our own, we feel a desire to grow and connect to Hashem. The Pesach Seder is one such opportunity, where the atmosphere of Holiness envelops us and elevates us to a higher plane.
But does the Isarusa Deleila mean we passively waiting for the flash of inspiration to come our way? Pesach is a time of incredible G-dly revelation, but can we just enter Pesach and sit at the Seder expecting to experience the spiritual light and energy of the night?
In the Beis Hamikdosh, the Korbonos were brought up to be consumed by the fire on the Mizbeach. In the opening of Parshas Tzav, the Torah instructs that the fire of the Mizbeach had to burn constantly. The Kohanim were required to replenish this fire with wood each day.
But why was this fire and wood necessary? Our sages teach that a fire would descend from Heaven in the form of a lion which would devour the Korbonos and elevate them. If so, what was the need for an earthly fire that would need to constantly be replenished?
The sages teach, that even though the fire would descend from Above, it is a Mitzvah to bring a simple, earthly fire (from below).
The Mizbeach represents our service of Hashem through Torah, Mitzvos and Tefillah. The fiery flames are the feeling and passion that we experience in our Avodah.
The Isarusa Deleila experience is like the fireball descending from Heaven. It kindles our hearts and infuses our Avodah with passion. But we cannot rely on the Heavenly fire alone. We have to bring our simple earthly fire; our own attempts to arouse within us feelings of love of Hashem and a desire to connect to Him. Rambam explains that this is achieved through thinking about His greatness.
It may not be miraculous, but Hashem desires our earthly fire because it is ours; not so much for the achievement, but for the effort that we put in. This earthly fire, albeit limited in comparison to a fire from Heaven, is actually the catalyst which arouses and elicits the flames from Above in return. Only then will the impact be lasting and become part of us.
The Talmud teaches that in conception; when a woman seeds first, the resulting offspring will be a male, whereas when a man seeds first the child conceived will be female. In the cosmic relationship, Hashem is likened to a groom and we are the bride.
The Talmud is teaching us a deep lesson; When the initiation comes from Above - the male seeds first - the result will be female, reflecting a weaker experience. But when the initiation comes from below, both the experience and impact will be strong and lasting.
If we truly wish to experience and feel the ‘fireball’ from Heaven on Pesach, we need to start to light our own fire. We do this by the learning that we do in the lead-up to Pesach. Then on seder night, these two fires will unite and burn together at our seder table in our hearts and souls.
Isarusa Deleila are the moments of inspiration which we experience from time-to-time, where through no effort of our own, we feel a desire to grow and connect to Hashem. The Pesach Seder is one such opportunity, where the atmosphere of Holiness envelops us and elevates us to a higher plane.
But does the Isarusa Deleila mean we passively waiting for the flash of inspiration to come our way? Pesach is a time of incredible G-dly revelation, but can we just enter Pesach and sit at the Seder expecting to experience the spiritual light and energy of the night?
In the Beis Hamikdosh, the Korbonos were brought up to be consumed by the fire on the Mizbeach. In the opening of Parshas Tzav, the Torah instructs that the fire of the Mizbeach had to burn constantly. The Kohanim were required to replenish this fire with wood each day.
But why was this fire and wood necessary? Our sages teach that a fire would descend from Heaven in the form of a lion which would devour the Korbonos and elevate them. If so, what was the need for an earthly fire that would need to constantly be replenished?
The sages teach, that even though the fire would descend from Above, it is a Mitzvah to bring a simple, earthly fire (from below).
The Mizbeach represents our service of Hashem through Torah, Mitzvos and Tefillah. The fiery flames are the feeling and passion that we experience in our Avodah.
The Isarusa Deleila experience is like the fireball descending from Heaven. It kindles our hearts and infuses our Avodah with passion. But we cannot rely on the Heavenly fire alone. We have to bring our simple earthly fire; our own attempts to arouse within us feelings of love of Hashem and a desire to connect to Him. Rambam explains that this is achieved through thinking about His greatness.
It may not be miraculous, but Hashem desires our earthly fire because it is ours; not so much for the achievement, but for the effort that we put in. This earthly fire, albeit limited in comparison to a fire from Heaven, is actually the catalyst which arouses and elicits the flames from Above in return. Only then will the impact be lasting and become part of us.
The Talmud teaches that in conception; when a woman seeds first, the resulting offspring will be a male, whereas when a man seeds first the child conceived will be female. In the cosmic relationship, Hashem is likened to a groom and we are the bride.
The Talmud is teaching us a deep lesson; When the initiation comes from Above - the male seeds first - the result will be female, reflecting a weaker experience. But when the initiation comes from below, both the experience and impact will be strong and lasting.
If we truly wish to experience and feel the ‘fireball’ from Heaven on Pesach, we need to start to light our own fire. We do this by the learning that we do in the lead-up to Pesach. Then on seder night, these two fires will unite and burn together at our seder table in our hearts and souls.