The Transformative Power of Pesach by Erez Safar

All of Passover (Pesach) is an opportunity for bitul hayesh, to negate and nullify all traces of ego and self-centeredness, to transcend the illusion of self.

I just wrote this Pesach & Omer companion called, ‘The Transformative Power of Pesach and Sefirat Ha’Omer’ that you might find interesting. #Linkinbio to read it in full.

We can draw connections between the weekly portion from Leviticus and the larger Jewish story of moving from spiritual constriction into spiritual freedom. From safek (doubt) into salvation, the mindset of Redemption.

Chametz literally means leavening: that which causes bread to rise. Our Sages teach us that this chametz represents arrogance and the yetzer hara/evil inclination.

In Talmud Berachot, the yetzer hara is depicted as the “yeast in the dough”, puffing up a person’s pride.

We are obligated to search our homes in preparation for Pesach, collecting any leftover scraps and crumbs of chametz that might be hidden, and then to ritually burn them before Pesach begins. This process is called biyur. This ritual primes us to spend Pesach ridding ourselves of our spiritual chametz— our arrogance and pride.

It’s important to face ourselves honestly as we do this, and, like the practice of biyur, there comes a time to let our egos “burn”, to not let them hold us back any longer, so that we can strengthen our emunah (faith) and connect to something higher than ourselves.

The Yehi Ratzon that we recite after the burning of chametz will blow your mind, it's the deepest writing and ritual!

Incidentally, the search/bedikat for the chametz may not be done by sunlight or moonlight, and is only valid by the light of a candle. It is the same with the search within our own yetzer hara— it can only be done with the light of the neshama/soul which is called ner/candle. As it says in Proverbs, “The candle of Hashem is the soul of man, which searches the chambers of one’s inner being.”

Chag Kasher V’Sameach!
- Erez

*** THIS IS ONLY A FEW SNIPPETS FROM THE DVAR/ARTICLE, TO REALLY JUMP INTO THE POWERFUL AND PERSONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR TRANSFORMATION,