At each of our Sedarim we have many unique opportunities. One of them is that we get to see friends and family who come from a variety of backgrounds and likes.
As the seder progresses we will begin to realize that the Exodus from Egypt was not simply something that happened to "ME" but that it was experienced by myriads of Jews from different walks of life.
Enhance your Seder with an eclectic collection of Divrei Torah (link)
And Remember that this isn't just a Story but that it happened to the greater YOU!
HAVE A CHAG KASHER V'SAMEACH!
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Parshas Kedoshim
דַּבֵּר אֶל-כָּל-עֲדַת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם קְדֹשִׁים תִּהְיוּ כִּי קָדוֹשׁ אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
Rashi says: This teaches that this Parasha was said during an assembly. What is the significance of the fact that it was said in the assembly? What is Rashi's underlying message? The Chasam Sofer gives a simple yet profound answer. Kedoshim means to be holy, but says Rashi even when you are Holy you still must be among the assembly. The Jewish religion does not have the concept of the Monk who is a hermit separating himself for G-d. The Jewish religion says no you must be amongst people, and none the less be holy. This means to behave on a higher moral level, even against the tide. Our Halachos are structured purposefully make us go out and be among others. Mitzvahs like Minyan and Hachnosas Orchim and Kiruv are prime examples. It is our Job to go out and live on a higher level and serve as Hashem's prototypes. Thereby showing that living on a higher spiritual plain is the definition of being a proper Jew.
לֹא תֹאכְלוּ עַל-הַדָּם לֹא תְנַחֲשׁוּ וְלֹא תְעוֹנֵנוּ
The Halacha we learn out of this Posuk is that we do not eat before Davening. What is the correlation between this Posuk and Davening? The Chasam Sofer offers an Intriguing answer. A person's essence is Blood: דָּם it is his life-force which his body needs for its every day functions and the posuk says כי הדם הוא הנפש. Therefore a man is דָּם .Now we know Hashem is the first as he created all creations including time therefore he is Aleph the first letter in the Aleph Beis. The second way we relate to Hashem is as a commander Known as the Aluf .The fact that it is phonetically similar is not by chance it is becuase Hashem is represented by the letter Aleph. The way we connect to the Aleph meaning Hashem is of course through Davening .Now we take the דָּם the base character of man and Daven thereby adding the א you now become an אדם.Therefore we now understand the meaning of the Posuk לֹא תֹאכְלוּ עַל-הַדָּם Don’t eat while we are still the דָּם before Davening only after we join the Aleph then we are an אדם and now we can Halachicly eat.
וִהְיִיתֶם לִי קְדֹשִׁים כִּי קָדוֹשׁ אֲנִי יְהוָה וָאַבְדִּל אֶתְכֶם מִן-הָעַמִּים
Rashi says on this Posuk If you are separated from them, behold, you are Mine, but if not, behold, you are Nebuchadnezzar's. What message is Rashi trying to send us? There is an Idea in Halacha of going after the Majority הולכים אחרי הרוב. The Medrash in Vayikra brings a story where an Emperor asked if you have this concept then you should join us as idol worshippers after all we are the majority? The Sefer Pilpul Chariftah uses our Posuk as the answer. It explains if you behave as קְדֹשִׁים meaning separate in your behavior defined as acting on a higher moral level then the concept of majority no longer applies. This is because nullification only applies when the object is indistinct. This means the emperor's question is legitimate only when we behave as those around us. It is only then we are בטול ברוב nullified among the majority .If we follow the advice of the Posuk and act as וָאַבְדִּל אֶתְכֶם מִן-הָעַמִּים by acting in distinction then a second law of nullification comes to the forefront. That is that an object that is distinct does not become nullified דבר הניכר איני בטל. Therefore Rashi tells if you don’t take the moral high road you are Nebuchadnezzar's because of the din of Bittul.
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