Pesach — Passover
Hebrew: פֶּסַח | When: 15-22 Nisan
Pesach: Liberation of the Soul
The Exodus from Egypt (Yetziat Mitzrayim) is not merely a historical event — it is the ongoing archetype of the soul’s liberation from its own mitzrayim (constrictions).
Mitzrayim = Inner Constriction
The Hebrew Mitzrayim (Egypt) comes from meitzar — narrow, constricted. In Chabad thought, every person has their own inner Egypt: the constricting patterns of thought, habit, and desire that prevent the soul from breathing freely. The Exodus is the ongoing work of liberation from these inner constrictions.
The Seder: A Journey Through Consciousness
The Passover Seder is structured as a spiritual journey:
- Kadesh (sanctification) = entering sacred time
- Maggid (telling) = the narrative of liberation
- Hallel (praise) = the soul’s spontaneous gratitude after liberation
- Nirtzah (acceptance) = completion
The four cups correspond to the four expressions of redemption and to the four levels of the soul’s liberation.
Chametz and Matzah: Two Attitudes
Chametz (leavened bread) = the puffed-up ego (yeshut) — the inflated sense of self Matzah (unleavened) = the flat, humble bread of bittul — the nullified self
Removing chametz from one’s home represents the annual process of ego-examination and surrender. The Alter Rebbe taught that even a k’zayit (olive-size) of chametz can invalidate the whole house — even a small amount of pride can corrupt the spiritual environment.
Leil Shimurim: The Night of Watching
The night of Pesach is “leil shimurim” — God watches over the Jewish people with special protection. In Chabad: this night, the highest Divine light descends, penetrating even the greatest darkness of galut.
Sources
- Tanya, various chapters
- Alter Rebbe, Likkutei Torah — Pesach discourses
- The Rebbe, extensive Pesach teachings