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From: Root & Branch Association, Ltd.
To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org

Subject: Passover/Commentary: THE REVELATION OF THE SHECHINAH (DIVINE PRESENCE), OPENING THE DOOR FOR ELIJAH: SEDER TEACHINGS

by Yosef Ben Shlomo HaKohen

Passover/Commentary: THE REVELATION OF THE SHECHINAH (DIVINE PRESENCE)

OPENING THE DOOR FOR ELIJAH: SEDER TEACHINGS

by Yosef Ben Shlomo HaKohen

YERUSHALIYIM, D.C. (David's Capital), Yom Sheini (Second Day -- "Monday"),
16 Nisan, 5761 (Gregorian Date: April 9, 2001)

The Passover Seder is divided into two parts. Before the meal, the readings from the Haggadah (Passover Story) focus on the past redemption: the awesome revelation of the Shechinah (Divine Presence) in the land of Mitzrayim (Egypt) and at the Red Sea. As the Haggadah indicates, this revelation led to the downfall of Pharaoh and the liberation, both physical and spiritual, of the Children of Israel.

After the meal, the readings from the Haggadah focus on the future redemption - the awesome revelation of the Shechinah to the entire world at the advent of the Messianic Age. This revelation will lead to the downfall of the modern "Pharaohs" and the liberation, both physical and spiritual, of Israel and all humanity.

There is a custom to begin the second part of the Seder by opening the door of our home for "Eliyahu HaNavi" (Elijah the Prophet). A reason for this custom can be found in the ancient prophecy which reveals that the Compassionate One will send Eliyahu HaNavi at the dawn of the future redemption:

"Behold, I will send you Eliyahu HaNavi before the coming of the great and awesome day of HaShem (the Lord)". [Malachi 3:23]

According to a teacher of my teachers, Rav Yitzchak Hutner -- a noted sage of the previous generation -- the future redemption is connected to the past redemption, as the Exodus serves as a prelude to the Messianic redemption. Rav Hutner finds a source for this idea in the following prophecy (7:15) of the Prophet Micah concerning the advent of the Messianic Age:

"As in the days when you left the land of Mitzrayim, I will show him (Israel) wonders". [ArtScroll Haggadah, by Rabbi Joseph Elias - Introduction]

There is another prophecy, however, which indicates that the future redemption will be even greater than the previous redemption:

"Therefore, behold, days are coming - spoke HaShem - when people will no longer say, 'As HaShem lives, Who brought the Children of Israel up from the land of Mitzrayim', but rather, 'As HaShem lives, Who brought up and brought back the offspring of the Family of Israel from the land of the North and from all the lands wherein He had dispersed them', and they will dwell in
their land". [Yirmiyahu/Jeremiah 23:7-8]

This prophecy of Jeremiah implies that the future redemption will be so wondrous that it will eclipse the memory of what happened during the Exodus.

In what way will the Messianic redemption be greater than the redemption from Mitzrayim?

Rav Yechezkel Abramsky, a noted sage of the previous generation - who witnessed the tremendous suffering and isolation of the Jewish people during the dark periods of the past century - offers the following answer:

"We must bear in mind that the protracted manipulation of the forces of nature (during the Exodus) was designed to teach a lesson not only to the people who benefited most directly from these miracles. Indeed, G-d told Pharaoh that He could have eliminated him without fanfare, in an instant, with one fierce blow, but 'for this reason I have let you endure, in order to show you My strength and so that My Name may be declared throughout the world' [Shemot/Exodus 9:16].

The lessons of the Exodus were not intended to inspire the limited audience of Israel alone; they were cosmic events, with universal objectives. But if this was the ultimate purpose of the miraculous nature of the Exodus, it seems to have fallen short of its goal...The world is still filled with idolatry and corruption. The Jews and the Torah are still despised in every corner of the globe. However, G-d has sent us His word through His prophets, promising that one day, 'Peoples will come, as well as inhabitants of many cities...Many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek out HaShem in Jerusalem, and to make supplication before HaShem' [Zechariah 8:20-22]. At that time, in the Messianic Era, when God promises that 'As in the days of your Exodus from the land of Egypt I will show you wonders', the objectives that were undertaken in the days of the Exodus  will at last finally come to fruition. The universal recognition of  G-d as supreme sovereign of the Universe will finally be achieved". [The ArtScroll Haggadah of the Roshei Yeshivos, Book Two, page 84]

The future redemption will be a continuation of a process that began with the Exodus from Mitzrayim, which is why the Prophet Micah compares the two. The future redemption will also be greater than the first redemption, states the Prophet Jeremiah, for in the Messianic Era, the universal goals of the Exodus will finally be achieved. In this spirit, we chant the following verse during the second half of the Seder:

"Praise HaShem, all nations; extol Him, all the states!" [Tehillim/Psalm 117:1]

Another verse that we chant is:

"Blessed is the One Who comes in the Name of HaShem; we bless you from the House of HaShem". [Tehillim/Psalm 118:26]

According to the classical biblical commentator "Radak" (Rav Dovid Kimchi), the above blessing will be said by the "Kohanim" (Ministers of the Temple) to the pilgrims from all the peoples who will make the pilgrimage to the Temple during the Messianic Age.

We conclude the Seder with the proclamation: "Next Year in Jerusalem" - the year when "Many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek out HaShem in Jerusalem". In this era, teach the sages [Leviticus Rabbah 1:14], the Shechinah will be revealed to all humankind.

As it is written:

"The glory of HaShem will be revealed, and all humankind will see it together". [Yeshiyahu/Isaiah 40:5]

Shalom and Moadim L'Simcha from Yerushaliyim and may it be a liberating Passover for all of us!

Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen
http://www.shemayisrael.co.il/publicat/hazon/

NOTE:

A Related Teaching: I would like to share with you an insight from "The MeAm Lo'ez Haggadah" - an anthology of commentaries by the noted Sephardic sage, Chacham Yaakov Culi (1689-1732). It was translated from the Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) original by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan (Maznaim Publishing Corporation). The following commentary is on a verse from a Psalm that we chant during the second half of the Seder, "I will lift a cup of deliverances and will call in the Name of HaShem" [Tehillim/Psalm 116:13]: "The cup that I will lift is called a 'cup of deliverances' - in the plural. Today, we only thank G-d for one deliverance, that from Egypt. In the future, however, we will be praising G-d for many deliverances. Besides delivering us from our exile, G-d will also deliver all humanity from their ignorance and spiritual opaqueness. All the world will be filled with knowledge [Habakkuk 2:14] and spiritual sensitivity. People will be intelligent and know G-d's greatness. All the mysteries of the Torah about which we know virtually nothing today, will be revealed. (Maasey Hashem)

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NOTE FROM EDDIE:

Notice that the Passover Seder is a rehearsal of the HISTORICAL Egyptian redemption and the FUTURE Messianic redemption or  ingathering of the Exiles as understood by Orthodox Judaism.

The FUTURE redemption spoken of in the above article is the end of the exile and the restoration and redemption of BOTH HOUSES of Israel (Ezekiel 37:15-28) as seen by Orthodox Judaism AND the Torah AND the prophets.

It is a CONTRADICTION to DO a Passover Seder and REHEARSE the HISTORICAL and FUTURE redemption and NOT believe in the restoration of both houses of Israel in the end of day because THIS is what the Passover Seder is all about!

THIS is the meaning of NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM! which ends the Passover Seder. It is a proclamation for the end of the exile, the regathering, restoration and reunification of BOTH houses of Israel (Ezekiel 37:15-28), the coming of King Messiah and the Messianic Era!

END OF NOTE

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