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Dear Member,
On Friday night Jews all over the world will sit down to a Seder which might be the most popularly celebrated Jewish tradition.
The Torah commands us to “remember the day you went out of Egypt”. If one has a strong imagination one can sometimes re-experience an event that happened to him/her as if it was happening again. Therefore in the Haggada we read that one is meant to see himself as if he went out of Egypt, that is we should “re-live” the story of the oppression and liberation as if it was happening to us now. We must to the best of our abilities imagine ourselves in Egypt and experiencing the liberation.
What is the purpose of this memory?
One reason is that if we relive it in the physical world Hashem once again relates to us in this miraculous manner of liberation helping us become liberated from our inner “Egypt” i.e. our inner constriction and enslavement, whether it be ill health, lack of essential needs, addictions, inner turmoil, lack of spiritual meaning and sense of purpose etc.
One of the most well-known parts of the Haggada is Vehi Sheomda - many actually sing this paragraph which reads: And this (Hashem’s blessings and the Torah) is what kept our fathers and what keeps us surviving. For, not only one arose and tried to destroy us, rather in every generation they try to destroy us, and Hashem saves us from their hands.
The message is clear just as G‑d saved us in the past, He will surely save us again for He stands with us always.
I would like to recommend that in addition to remembering the exodus from Egypt, remember and relive a personal exodus from a personal Egypt where you thought you were in a pickle - a difficult situation in any of the above ways, yet have managed to get out of it and are now in a better state. Everyone has many such moments they could relive in their own life, and let the past be prologue, for just as Hashem helped you then, surely Hashem will once again be there for you and help you out of your present Egypt as well.
Fruma and I wish you a very Kosher and happy Pesach.
Rabbi Nochum Schapiro
PS Click here for some Vehi Sheamda tunes
soulful,
traditional and
contemporary.
FEW IMPORTANT REMINDERS
>
Chametz Deadline
Finish eating Chametz by: 11:00 am
Burn your chametz before: 12:00 pm
> Sale of Chametz
Please ensure to send in your Chametz form by Thursday, 29 March by 5:00 pm either by bringing it into the office, or online at
ChabadHouse.org.au/chametz.
> Burning of the Chametz
We will have a communal burning of Chametz on Friday morning, 30 March at 11:00 am at Chabad. Feel free to come and bring your last few crumbs and the 10 pieces from the Search for Chametz. DO NOT BRING LARGE AMOUNTS OF CHAMETZ.
> Shule Services
Pesach Evening Services: 6:30 pm (30-31 March 2018)
Pesach Morning Services: 9:30 am (31 March, 1 April 2018)
> Fast of the Firstborn
We will have a Siyum on Friday morning, 30 March, following the Shacharit service (commencing at 8:15 am).
> Assist the Needy for Pesach
With your help, we have already given out food packages and money to many families in need of assistance for Pesach. If you haven't yet, you can still participate in this most important Mitzvah.
Click here to donate.
> Shmurah Matzah
If you would still like to purchase Shmurah Matzah for your Seder we may still have a few boxes available. Please contact the office. If you have not yet received your complimentary Matzah, please come into the office to collect.
> Communal Seder
We only have 8 places for our fully-catered Communal Pesach Seder. Please books by clicking here
www.chabadhouse.org.au/register
> Yizkor
The Yizkor Memorial Service will be recited in Shule on the last day of Pesach, Shabbat, 7 April at approximately 11:00 am.
> Moshiach Seudah
On the last day of Pesach, 7 April, the customary 'Moshiach's Seudah' - 'Meal of Moshiach' will take place (following Mincha) at 4:15 pm
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