As
we approach the upcoming upbeat month of Nissan - the month of
redemption - a "putting into perspective" and preparation of this
special experience is needed.
Firstly, a summary/explanation of this time period we are now in is necessary:
Shabbat Shekalim
The Shabbat preceding Adar is called Shabbat Shekalim, since we recite the extra Torah portion explaining the commandment for every Jew to give/donate a half-shekel silver coin towards the funding and continuity of the Holy Temple and sacrifices in Jerusalem. The shekel coin is also grammatically linked to the word "Mishkal" which means a scale or balance - conceptually between the good and bad.
Thus, by doing so, every Jew "connected" to the holiness of the Holy Temple. This holiness enabled every Jew to boost and energize their inner good, thus helping to overcome the evil side within. It being a "half" shekel connotes that the "good-half" of the scale-mishkal is becoming boosted and elevated by connecting to the holiness of the Holy Temple.
So too today, even though we don't have the Holy Temple to connect to, listening to the recitation of the Torah portion of Shekalim right before Adar serves to "awaken" within us the inner good - the good "half" of the Shekel coin/scale within us.
The result is that the dormant good - dormant due to the overwhelming and convincing influence of the bad within - is thus awakened with good desire to return to Hashem. "Hashem, I am not as bad as I act. Deep down inside I really want to be a good person etc." These thoughts and good desires come from the awakened good within.
Shabbat Zakhor
On this Shabbat we recite the extra Torah portion which commands us to remember what Amalek did to us when leaving Egypt - cutting off the weak and down-trodden Jews.
By clearly separating and clarifying the good within us from the bad, we become aware and realize that the force behind this cunning act of keeping our inner-good dormant is none other than Haman-Amalek himself - the Amalek within. He tries constantly to convince us that we are really totally bad - meaning both sides of the scale/Mishkal. However the victory has begun by simply "knowing" that I am not the bad guy. It is this external force called Amalek who covers himself up within our sub-conscious who is behind the scenes. My good points have tremendous value. Even more than my bad deeds and actions. "A little bit of good can push off a lot of darkness".
Purim
Once I have pin-pointed my enemy - namely Amalek - and not like he thought of convincing me that it is myself - I can now blot him out. This is the mitzvah and commandment of rejoicing over the Purim miracle. By performing all the mizvot of Purim, especially the joy of Purim, we pulverize and crush the Amalek within, allowing the good inside us to surface and gain dominance over the bad side/half of the scale/mishkal/shekel coin.
Shabbat Parah
On this Shabbat we recite the Torah portion which discusses the commandment to sprinkle the ashes of the red heifer onto someone who was made impure (in the time of the Holy temple) by coming in contact with a dead corpse.
Today too, by listening to this extra Torah portion after Purim we activate and receive the purity brought about through these holy ashes.
To explain, conceptually the idea of converting the red heifer into ashes is specifically to elevate those who feel "burnt down to the ashes". Also the heifer - being the mother of a calf - serves to remind the idol-worship sin of the golden calf. Red also connotes judgments/blood. Thus the ashes of the red heifer - signifying the worst of the worst - is the means to purify those who have fallen to the "worst of the worst" - namely the worst levels of impurity which could deem a person as considered spiritually "dead". Specifically from there these ashes elevate a person to the level of purity.
In a sense, this is similar to the job of the True Tzaddikim. They toil and involve themselves in helping to elevate, bring back and purify people who have fallen so far and low.
Shabbat HaChodesh
After being "elevated" and purified to a major extent, we are now ready to start again in life.
We now read the Torah portion dealing with the very first Mitzvah of the Torah - sanctifying the new moon. This mitzvah was taught to Moshe at the onset of the very first day of the month of Nissan - the month of the redemption from Egypt.
The Jewish nation like the moon share a common characteristic - both have periods of darkness and light. As the month begins with the light of the moon barely visible, so too a Jew must simply pick himself up and start again even in total darkness. This "renewal" is the secret to success. For even after the moon reaches it's enlightened climax at the middle of the month, it thereafter begins to diminish to almost nothing by the end of the month. However, the new month starts again specifically from this darkness.
So too, due to the boost received through the red heifer ashes Torah portion, we are now able to constantly start anew no matter how low we may fall. There is always a light following the darkness. Like the month (chodesh in Hebrew) we are able to start anew (chadash in Hebrew).
*
In summary, these weeks all serve to prepare us to properly receive the light of Pesach - which is the light of the past redemption from Egypt, the present redemption from our daily struggles and difficulties, and the future/ultimate redemption when Mashiach comes. The key is hope, joy and to never give up no matter what and how the situation. Through all this we become rightful heirs to the purity and holiness needed to partake of the Pesach offering. Pesach - which means to "skip over" - enables us to "skip over" all of the failures, downs and set-backs.
May we speedily merit to seeing the imminent coming of Mashiach, the building of the final Holy Temple, and may we partake of sacrifices and peace offerings in total purity and holiness and purity, Amen!
* * *
As Nissan approaches, so do the heavy Pesach expenses. Please be considerate and help support needy large families here in Jerusalem (including me and my family).
To contribute please follow this paypal link: PESACH SUPPORT
As a token of appreciation for your support, please include your Hebrew name and mother's Hebrew name (if applicable) in the description box on the left side of the paypal page. I will bli neder add your name to my 40-day davening list which also includes sporadic praying at the holy sites here in Eretz Yisrael.
Thank you, be well, and CHODESH TOV
Sincererly
Meir Elkabas
The Shabbat preceding Adar is called Shabbat Shekalim, since we recite the extra Torah portion explaining the commandment for every Jew to give/donate a half-shekel silver coin towards the funding and continuity of the Holy Temple and sacrifices in Jerusalem. The shekel coin is also grammatically linked to the word "Mishkal" which means a scale or balance - conceptually between the good and bad.
Thus, by doing so, every Jew "connected" to the holiness of the Holy Temple. This holiness enabled every Jew to boost and energize their inner good, thus helping to overcome the evil side within. It being a "half" shekel connotes that the "good-half" of the scale-mishkal is becoming boosted and elevated by connecting to the holiness of the Holy Temple.
So too today, even though we don't have the Holy Temple to connect to, listening to the recitation of the Torah portion of Shekalim right before Adar serves to "awaken" within us the inner good - the good "half" of the Shekel coin/scale within us.
The result is that the dormant good - dormant due to the overwhelming and convincing influence of the bad within - is thus awakened with good desire to return to Hashem. "Hashem, I am not as bad as I act. Deep down inside I really want to be a good person etc." These thoughts and good desires come from the awakened good within.
Shabbat Zakhor
On this Shabbat we recite the extra Torah portion which commands us to remember what Amalek did to us when leaving Egypt - cutting off the weak and down-trodden Jews.
By clearly separating and clarifying the good within us from the bad, we become aware and realize that the force behind this cunning act of keeping our inner-good dormant is none other than Haman-Amalek himself - the Amalek within. He tries constantly to convince us that we are really totally bad - meaning both sides of the scale/Mishkal. However the victory has begun by simply "knowing" that I am not the bad guy. It is this external force called Amalek who covers himself up within our sub-conscious who is behind the scenes. My good points have tremendous value. Even more than my bad deeds and actions. "A little bit of good can push off a lot of darkness".
Purim
Once I have pin-pointed my enemy - namely Amalek - and not like he thought of convincing me that it is myself - I can now blot him out. This is the mitzvah and commandment of rejoicing over the Purim miracle. By performing all the mizvot of Purim, especially the joy of Purim, we pulverize and crush the Amalek within, allowing the good inside us to surface and gain dominance over the bad side/half of the scale/mishkal/shekel coin.
Shabbat Parah
On this Shabbat we recite the Torah portion which discusses the commandment to sprinkle the ashes of the red heifer onto someone who was made impure (in the time of the Holy temple) by coming in contact with a dead corpse.
Today too, by listening to this extra Torah portion after Purim we activate and receive the purity brought about through these holy ashes.
To explain, conceptually the idea of converting the red heifer into ashes is specifically to elevate those who feel "burnt down to the ashes". Also the heifer - being the mother of a calf - serves to remind the idol-worship sin of the golden calf. Red also connotes judgments/blood. Thus the ashes of the red heifer - signifying the worst of the worst - is the means to purify those who have fallen to the "worst of the worst" - namely the worst levels of impurity which could deem a person as considered spiritually "dead". Specifically from there these ashes elevate a person to the level of purity.
In a sense, this is similar to the job of the True Tzaddikim. They toil and involve themselves in helping to elevate, bring back and purify people who have fallen so far and low.
Shabbat HaChodesh
After being "elevated" and purified to a major extent, we are now ready to start again in life.
We now read the Torah portion dealing with the very first Mitzvah of the Torah - sanctifying the new moon. This mitzvah was taught to Moshe at the onset of the very first day of the month of Nissan - the month of the redemption from Egypt.
The Jewish nation like the moon share a common characteristic - both have periods of darkness and light. As the month begins with the light of the moon barely visible, so too a Jew must simply pick himself up and start again even in total darkness. This "renewal" is the secret to success. For even after the moon reaches it's enlightened climax at the middle of the month, it thereafter begins to diminish to almost nothing by the end of the month. However, the new month starts again specifically from this darkness.
So too, due to the boost received through the red heifer ashes Torah portion, we are now able to constantly start anew no matter how low we may fall. There is always a light following the darkness. Like the month (chodesh in Hebrew) we are able to start anew (chadash in Hebrew).
*
In summary, these weeks all serve to prepare us to properly receive the light of Pesach - which is the light of the past redemption from Egypt, the present redemption from our daily struggles and difficulties, and the future/ultimate redemption when Mashiach comes. The key is hope, joy and to never give up no matter what and how the situation. Through all this we become rightful heirs to the purity and holiness needed to partake of the Pesach offering. Pesach - which means to "skip over" - enables us to "skip over" all of the failures, downs and set-backs.
May we speedily merit to seeing the imminent coming of Mashiach, the building of the final Holy Temple, and may we partake of sacrifices and peace offerings in total purity and holiness and purity, Amen!
* * *
As Nissan approaches, so do the heavy Pesach expenses. Please be considerate and help support needy large families here in Jerusalem (including me and my family).
To contribute please follow this paypal link: PESACH SUPPORT
As a token of appreciation for your support, please include your Hebrew name and mother's Hebrew name (if applicable) in the description box on the left side of the paypal page. I will bli neder add your name to my 40-day davening list which also includes sporadic praying at the holy sites here in Eretz Yisrael.
Thank you, be well, and CHODESH TOV
Sincererly
Meir Elkabas
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