The story is told about Rebbe Moshe Leib Ehrlich of Sassov (1745-1807), the founding Rebbe of Sassov and a student of the Maggid of Mezrich, when he went to his first meal by Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk.

 

It was Shabbos Parshas Bo and he was asked to give a Dvar Torah. He opened by quoting the Passuk: ”וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֡ם זֶֽבַח־פֶּ֨סַח ה֜וּא לַֽה’ אֲשֶׁ֣ר פָּ֠סַח עַל־בָּתֵּ֤י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם בְּנָגְפּ֥וֹ אֶת־מִצְרַ֖יִם וְאֶת־בָּתֵּ֣ינוּ הִצִּ֑יל”

You shall say, “It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, because He passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but saved our houses.”

 

The Rebbe delved into the Passuk and asked 2 questions. The first was, did Hashem really need the Jews to make a sign on the door to show that they were Jews, doesn’t Hashem know which house is a Jewish home? The second question that the Rebbe asked was according to the language of the Passuk, it says “עַל־בָּתֵּ֤י” “on the houses”. Shouldn’t it rather say “מעל” from house to house”?

 

With immense wisdom, the Rebbe answered that when Hashem came past the houses of the Mitzrim, he saw inside that these houses were full of Idol worship, and this of course did not give joy to Hashem. However, upon arrival at the houses of the Jews, Hashem would see them full of kedusha and this would fill up Hashem with joy and love for his people. “פָּ֠סַח” hashem passed and danced “עַל־בָּתֵּ֤י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙” on the houses of the Jews . Hashem did not go מעל from house to house but rather danced על the houses of the Jews. And as the Rebbe said in Yiddish, Hashem said ׳דא ווינט א איד׳, ׳דא ווינט א איד׳ ,. “This is where a Jew lives, this is where a Jew lives.” As he finished his Dvar Torah he began to dance and sing a niggun with the Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk.

 

And it is with this story, The Sossover Rebbe is telling each of us, that tonight at the Seder table, Hashem wants to see his nation filling their houses with Simcha, ahavah, and kedusha. This year more than ever, in such a deep time, we need to show Hashem and show the world that Am Yisrael will continue strong. We will emanate kedusha into the world so that Hashem can dance on top of our roofs with immense joy.

 

~ Davi Smith

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