From Our Archives

Light in an Increasingly Darkening World

by Mordecai Plaut

The wicked son, we are told, would not have been redeemed from Mitzrayim, had he been there at the time. He would not have been worthy. But there were really many Yidden who were lost in Mitzrayim. Chazal say that 80 percent were killed during the plague of darkness because they were reshoim.

Those who wish to be part of Klal Yisroel must make themselves appear as if they just left Mitzrayim (Pesochim 10:5, Rambam, Hilchos Chometz Umatzoh, 7:6).

Are we playing a game? Are we living a lie? Chas vesholom!

Understanding Leil HaSeder

by HaRav Shimshon Pincus zt"l

Introduction and Summary

The Leil HaSeder is a very special night. There is a saying by tzaddikim that the Leil HaSeder gives you a seder -- an organizing principle -- for the entire year. If we experience the Leil HaSeder properly, it is a wonderful experience and it can make a revolution within us and in our attachment to Hashem.

The first part of the talk was printed in our Pesach edition, 5762. HaRav Pincus explained that Pesach was and is the birth of the Jewish people, every year. There are three partners in all people: the father who gives the "white" (bones) parts of the body, the mother who gives the "red" (flesh and blood), and Hakodosh Boruch Hu Who gives the soul. On Pesach the matzoh, which gives basic emunoh, is the white part. The arba cosos of red wine give the excitement about Hashem, and the sippur yetzias Mitzrayim is the soul added by Hashem. On Pesach, Hashem also opens for us a supernatural way to understand concepts above our heads, like the chipozone in Egypt.

Searching Within: Understanding the Mitzvah of Bedikas Chometz

by Rabbi Daniel Yaakov Travis

Home Repair

"The neshomoh of a person is the candle of Hashem; it [the neshomoh] searches all of the inner chambers of a man's heart (Mishlei 20:27). From this verse the gemora learns that on the night of erev Pesach, every Jew is required to search the rooms of his home for chometz (Pesochim 7b).

On a simple level, we do so in order to make sure that we will not violate the prohibition of owning or eating chometz during Pesach.

The Ibn Ezra adds an extra dimension to the understanding of this mitzvah. He explain the above verse allegorically. The neshomoh of a person lights up his entire physical being, enabling it to do mitzvos and to live a spiritual life. This synthesis of body and soul lifts every Jew to incredible heights.

One potential stumbling block to this process is eating, for food can cause us to be drawn after the physical. The repercussions of this can influence the environment around us as well. Before Pesach, we try to repair any harm that our eating may have caused.

Treating Mental Health in Bnei Brak: A Warm Home in a Cold World

by Yated Ne'eman Staff

Some might be creative and motivated, others are more average- thinking people. Some could even be geniuses, always quick at solving riddles. Many of them are thinkers and can express themselves aptly in poetry. You could even subdivide them into groups of boring or interesting characters, some full of humor or dry as bones, kindhearted or absolutely selfish. Statistically speaking, they definitely cover the entire spectrum of personality traits that characterize the typical average population. However, they all share one common denominator: they all suffer from mental disorders. Healthy, But . . .

"I work only with healthy people," said Rabbi Shmuel Munk, head of the Bayit Cham Rehabilitation Center in Bnei Brak, at a special meeting called by the Health Ministry. All those present, professionals in the field of mental health, stared incredulously.

After each of them, in turn, elaborated on his special techniques in his practice with such patients, Rabbi Munk revealed his special point of view: "I believe that even a person who is diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia, is a healthy and productive being, aside from his specific problem.