Perashat Sav 5777

Perashat Sav 5777

Hag  HaPesah vs. Hag HaMassot

In a few days, all of us will be sitting around the Seder table, saying the Haggada, singing the traditional songs, and transmitting to our children our thousand-year old stories –overlaid with so many magical experiences – while, at the same time, expressing our gratitude for the miracles that Hashem did - and continues to do for us in every generation, thereby demonstrating our longing for Him to continue His blessing. This experience infuses us with inspiration, excitement, joy and pride that we are a part of this amazing nation, ‘Am Yisrael.

We are all aware that the name of this holiday is Pesah; at least that´s what we usually call it. However, in the Torah we see something very interesting; the Torah never refers to this holiday by this name!! The Torah’s name for this holiday is “Hag HaMassot” - the anniversary of, “eating the massot.”  Why this apparent contradiction?  Why have we gotten used to referring to this holiday in a name other than what G-d calls it?  What is the hidden secret behind this name?

In answer to this question, I will try to give a perspective that can help us, not only in regard to Pesah, but also, for our entire life.

The name Pesah is related to the fact that G-d passed-over the Jewish houses in the last plague, the “Killing of the Firstborn.” The Torah relates that, “There was not a house where there was not one dead.” G-d protected us from this misfortune. The Gemara explains that the meaning that, “G-d protected us,” is that when the Angel of Death has permission to carry out an epidemic, he doesn´t differentiate between the Saddikim and the Resha’im, the righteous and the evildoers - but in Egypt, G-d Himself did a miracle for us and “passed over” the Jewish houses, considering all his people to be righteous.

The name “Hag HaMassot” commemorates the bread that ‘Am Yisrael baked just before they left Missrayim. The Haggada asks: “This Massah that we eat - for what reason? Because the dough of our fathers did not have time to become leavened before the King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, revealed Himself to them and redeemed them.”

The relationship between G-d and ‘Am Yisrael is exactly like the love between a husband and his wife. In Shir Hashirim we read, “Go forth, O daughters of Zion, and behold King Solomon with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, and on the day of the gladness of his heart.” Pesah is like the day when the groom gets engaged with the bride, and Shabuot is like the wedding.

The name Pesah, therefore, represents the gratitude of ‘Am Yisrael to Hashem and our love for Him in saving us from the fate of the Firstborn of Egypt.  He passed over the Jew, because in Egypt G-d loved each one of them like a groom who loves his bride, and to this day, He continues to love each and every one of us. The name Hag HaMassot, on the other hand, represents the gratitude that G-d expresses to us that we were ready to follow him faithfully into the wilderness of the desert to an unknown land. “Thus said the Lord; I remember you, the devotion of your youth, your love like a bride, when you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.” He will never forget the real and intense love that we showed Him in those days.

Thus, in the Torah, G-d calls this holiday by the name of the amazing act of devotion that Bene Yisrael demonstrated in their sojourn in the desert. Hag HaMassot. However, when ‘Am Yisrael speaks about the greatness of G-d’s hand in the Exodus and the love He demonstrated toward them, they refer to it as Hag HaPesah. Each one wants to represent their love when speaking about the other; hence the two different names for the holiday.

This is an important lesson for us in how to express our love for each other.  When one is in a close relationship, they should always put their focus on the things that the other did for them - and not on the things that, I did for the other. This is the relationship between us and G-d - and this needs to be the relationship between our spouses, children, families, neighbors, partners and co-religionists. We should strive to be grateful for the many things that they do for us, rather than to observe what remains to be done.

When we start to appreciate all the blessings that G-d gives us, then He will give us more and more Berakhot, and a long life.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for making me feel at home at Congregation Beit Edmond.  It was a very big zekhut to meet all of you. Yehi Rasson, May it be G-d’s will, to fill your families with blessings, health, happiness, love, parnasa tova and above all, a world of berakhot.

Pesah Kasher VeSameah
Rabbi Isaac Wahnon
isaacwah@gmail.com