"Stand firm and see HaShem's salvation!"
(Exodus 14:13)
Nisan 20, 5782/April 21, 2022
"Pharaoh drew near, and the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold! the Egyptians were advancing after them. They were very frightened, and the children of Israel cried out to HaShem. They said to Moshe, Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us to die in the desert? What is this that you have done to us to take us out of Egypt?" (Exodus 14:10-11)
The seventh and final day of Passover, which begins this evening, is the anniversary of the crossing of the Sea of Reeds. We witness by the words quoted above that the infant nation of Israel, barely seven days old, was caught between a rock (the Sea of Reeds which spread before them) and a hard place (the army of Pharaoh, which closed in on them from behind), and their immediate reaction, while understandable, was not particularly flattering. Their fright turned quickly to anger, which they directed at Moshe. But fear is no way to move forward, and certainly not the path to freedom. Moshe responded prudently, saying, "Don't be afraid! Stand firm and see HaShem's salvation that He will wreak for you today!" (ibid 14:13) In other words, trust in HaShem.
Trusting in HaShem is a prerequisite for moving forward, for freeing ourselves of the Pharaohs and other demons that threaten to hold us back, to keep us down. But even as we feel their breath on our necks, we need to trust in HaShem. Trust in HaShem and He will stand behind you, keeping your demons at bay. Trust in HaShem and He will stand before you, showing you the way forward. Trust in HaShem for He is also standing on the far banks of the great Sea of Reeds, waiting for us to cross over.
Immediately after Moshe gave the directive to trust in HaShem, HaShem Himself piped in, saying "Why do you cry out to Me? Speak to the children of Israel and let them travel." (ibid 14:15) Trust in HaShem, and get a move on it! Achieving freedom requires but these two basic components: placing our trust in HaShem and putting our feet in motion. Standing still is never a solution. The seemingly impassable objects that lay before us are but challenges set before us by G-d, testing our mettle, knowing that we have it within us to cross the deepest and widest Sea of Reeds. If we just place our confidence in HaShem and step forth, the dry land will come out to meet us.
Having met and overcome our challenges, having set ourselves free of those things which held us back, having made it to the other side, the side G-d placed before us, there remains but one thing left to clinch our new found freedom: to give our thanks to HaShem!
"And Israel saw the great hand, which HaShem had used upon the Egyptians, and the people feared HaShem, and they believed in HaShem and in Moshe, His servant. Then Moshe and the children of Israel sang this song to HaShem, and they spoke, saying, I will sing to HaShem, for very exalted is He; a horse and its rider He cast into the sea. The Eternal's strength and His vengeance were my salvation; this is my G-d, and I will make Him a habitation, the G-d of my father, and I will ascribe to Him exaltation. HaShem is a Master of war; HaShem is His Name!" (ibid 14:31-15:3)
This, in a nutshell, is the message of the seventh day of Passover. Trust in Hashem, for He is the source of freedom. Trust in ourselves, for only we have the power to move ourselves forward. And give thanks to HaShem for placing His trust in us, and showing us the way.
Never stop moving forward. Seek freedom and pursue it, for freedom is precious. And always, always trust in HaShem. Chag sameach - happy seventh day of Passover!
Source: https://templeinstitute.org
The Meaning of Techeilet (Biblical Blue)
Joel Guberman, the founder of Ptil Techeilet, has dedicated his life to the renewal of the ancient art of and holy commandment of preparing the unique blue dye used in Temple times for the garments of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) and Parochet (curtain) that separated the Temple Sanctuary from the Holy of Holies, and for the tzitzit - the fringes - which Torah commands us to wear on the corners of our garments.
After 2,000 years, following the Roman seizure of the ancient Jewish industry of producing the blue techeilet dye, and the subsequent loss of the knowledge of the source of the dye and the science of processing the dye, Joel, with Ptil Techeilet, following extensive research and experimentation, rediscovered both the source and the science of producing the original blue techeilet dye used in ancient times.
In this video, filmed in the Samarian town of Shilo, at the site of the Tabernacle, which for nearly four hundred years stood in Shilo, Joel explains the meaning and spiritual significance of the blue techeilet day. Next week we will be posting a longer video that demonstrates the dying process of techeleit, as well as the dying process of biblical crimson, (Tola'at shani) and biblical purple, (argaman).
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