BS’D
Living in Mitzrayim is likened to living in a mute world with no voice, no opinion and no ability to express one’s identity. Essentially the Jewish people were under complete subjugation to the whim and will of the Egyptians. Emotionally this means totally alienation, loss of self-worth; a crumbling of the heart. The Jewish nation had succumbed to the fact that, ‘This is the way it will be and there is nothing we can do about it.’ In effect, the Egyptians choked the Jewish people to the point where they could no longer cry out for help.
Redemption is a state-of-mind. Seeing Hashem no matter how difficult life is removes us from that ‘narrow place’ called Mitzrayim and injects us with emuna that our voice matters. Emuna infuses us with strength and determination to exit out of those tight corners in life. We trust in Hashem that just as He redeemed us from Mitzrayim and was with us in our darkest hours, so too today.
The formation of the Ahm Yisrael began through the experience of Yitziat Mitzrayim; “Ani v’lo Saraf (It was I and not an angel (who redeemed you)”. Our cleaning wipes away the myth that it is anything else but Hashem! Hashem was personally involved in my redemption! As we clean we are to check, seek and search the areas in our lives that are covered in dust and shmutz and hide Hashem.
The most effective cleaning tool is not Sano or Mr. Clean… its tefillah. As we talk to Hashem we free our emotions and open our hearts to feeling Hashem’s presence. We proclaim that Hashem is ‘behind, around and within’ everything, even if we don’t clearly see it. Particularly through the act of talking to Hashem while preparing for Pesach we experience redemption, we let our voices be heard and we build our Jewish identity.
Let’s remember that next time our hands and feet begin to ache. Have a wonderful Chag Kasher v’Samaech.
Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated L’iluy nishmat my dear emuna soul-sister Chaya bat Baya a’h. The latest “Chaya: A 40-Day Modesty Campaign” was then dedicated to Chaya’s refuah. After a long and difficult 8-year battle with cancer, Chaya is now resting in Hashem’s arms. She was a beautiful soul who taught me what it means to live with heartfelt unwavering emuna. May her soul bask in the Divine radiance among all of the righteous who have departed from this world, Amen.
