Rabbi Soble shares an important message from the Seder that is applicable for our every day lives as Jews.
Every year as we the begin the Seder, we say “כל דכפין ייתי ויכול” Kol Dichfin Yeisei Veyeichol “All those in need come and eat”.
This is Strange! … We are sitting in our homes. The doors are closed, we’ve already made Kiddush. So why are we saying that we are inviting guests? What is this all about?…
…Perhaps this message is not only about last minute guests…maybe it is really a deeper message about us and our internal Mitzrayim…our own hunger…our own limitations.
We will understand this with a story:
Rabbi Wolfson was a sandek at a bris for a Russian immigrant arranged by the CHAMAH organization. The date was Chof Vov Adar 5752, the last time the Rebbe gave out dollars. Rabbi Wolfson told Rav Ahron Krovitz that what he will ask from the Rebbe is for Achirus, or Riches, the traditional blessing for a Sandek. However, he would ask that this beracha take affect in b‘ruchnius– in the spiritual realm. This is because the great rabbi–the Steipler Goan–was once asked “how come you have not become rich?” after having been a sandek by a bris. The Steipler Goan replied, “there are two types of wealth: spiritual wealth and material wealth. The fact that my books–my seforim–are read around the world is the wealth that I have received.” For this reason, Rabbi Wolfson wished to ask the Rebbe for spiritual, rather than physical wealth. However, when he went in front of the Rebbe to ask for the beracha, the Rebbe’s response was “reichket begashmius! Reichkeit beruchnuis hut ir shoin, ir darf nisht mein beracha,” “It should come down in physical wealth. Spiritual wealth you already have, you don’t need my blessing.”
So, we can interpret the puzzling verse from the haggadah not just as an invitation for others to “come and eat” in the physical sense, but rather as Hashem inviting us to “come and eat” in the spiritual sense. The relevance of Passover is that we will be assisted by Hashem to overcome any confinement or lack we have–our personal Mitzrayim. May this Pesach be a time where Hashem fills us with the energy, vitality and strength to overcome all of our obstacles to happily fulfill our life’s mission, whether that be spreading Yiddishkeit or living a fulfilled Jewish life.
A happy and Kosher Pesach!
Rabbi Soble