Finding Happiness in Exhaustion (Parashat Bo)

As I had expressed previously, I am often asked by my students to provide them with some sort of "proof" that Hashem exists.  "Let Him create a miracle for us to see" they insist...

If one were to examine all of the Pesach holiday, many of the things we do seem "outdated" and almost pointless.  A long meal is held on the first night (and second in the Diaspora) during which we read a story that seems to never end.  We are then instructed to eat specific foods and make sandwiches out of "crackers and lettuce."  Some spend months preparing for this holiday - purchasing food, cleaning our house so that we don't have even a trace of chametz, etc.

During my time working for NCSY, I remember once being asked by a teenager why it was all necessary.  "On the day of Pesach, why cant we just announce to our children that 'today Hashem saved us', and then go on with our lives" he asked.  Indeed, a valid question!

The answer to this NCSYer goes hand-in-hand with the answer to my students.

In Parashat Bo, Pharoah finally agrees to set B'nei Yisrael free.  Before this happens, however, Hashem casts one final plague on Egypt - that of the First Born.  In preparation for the plague, Hashem instructs Moshe to tell B'nei Yisrael to kill a lamb, smear its blood on their doorposts (to identify them as Jewish homes), roast the lamb and eat it.  Amid all of this (and more) He says "this day shall be for you a remembrance and you shall celebrate it as a festival for Hashem; for your generations, you shall celebrate it as an eternal statute.".

The answer to the NCSYer IS the answer to my students.  The reason Hashem instructs us to do all these seemingly unnecessary things on Pesach is because in this weeks Parasha he tells us that Pesach is going to be our "proof" for all future generations.  That is why simply stating to our children that "today Hashem saved us" isn't sufficient.  They need to live and breath the story.  Indeed, some communities even have the custom of loading up their shoulders and "leaving their homes."

If one doubts the existence of Hashem, let him recall the great miracles that were performed for us in Egypt and be assured that He does exist!  Hashem is telling us that miracles do not need to be performed again in the future (though they are on a regular basis), the ones which were performed in Egypt should be great enough to satisfy our questions.

This Pesach, instead of moaning over how long the seder is taking, may we all truly appreciate the miracle of Pesach as it is meant to be appreciated and reaffirm our belief in Hashem.  When the prep-work for Pesach seems never ending, let us rejoice in the fact that it is our home we are cleaning - and not that of the Egyptians!

Shabbat Shalom!