Passover 2026 Message
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So soon Pesah will be here—Whether You’re Ready or Not!
Undoubtedly, we will find out soon enough, when we realize how much work there is in order to prepare for Pessah; how much cleaning, shopping, baking and cooking there is. We will find out about the extra expenses of Pesah for food and for new items and utensils that might need to be purchased for the holiday. Nevertheless, we do what we must. Ultimately there is an overriding factor for most of us and it will all be worth it. and that is the simple meaning of the saying in Ladino, “Purim, Purim lanu Pesah en la mano” that we have to begin preparing for Pesah as soon as Purim is celebrated. But to my humble opinion this aphorism is a deeper thought, to ponder in gratitude into the celebration of the festivals and holidays.
The Jewish People have been witnesses, have seen miracles, one redemption after another, even before the first one is over. That is why we think about Pesah which is a celebration of “Geulah”. It celebrates the first redemption by G-d Almighty of His Chosen The Jewish People, from a cruel and despot Pharaoh and his Egyptian Empire, even while we are engage with the celebration of Purim from other implacable mortal enemy Haman, who wanted to destroy the Jewish People: Men, Young and old ,women and children. We have to realize, that as we celebrate one thing, we will know that something else will come up that will throw us back to square one when we are worried about our stability, even existence in our lives as individuals and as a People.
“BECHOL DOR VADOR OMEDIM ALENU LE’CHALOTENU”
In every Generation we face those who want to destroy us:-- But, H’.K’.B’.H’.MATZILENU MIYADAM” The Holy One Blessed Is He, saves us from their hands.
The most important thing in all this is: to condition ourselves to know, that Ha'Shem is our protector. That if we have faith in Him we will be all right. So that, as we celebrate one thing, one victory over our enemies, soon somebody else will rise but we will prevail with Ha'Shem's help.
So, as we gather at the Pesah Seder as a family, we should teach the Hagada to our children, family members and guest, not just to READ it in front of them. To teach the Hagada means, among other things, to make it “alive” and “relevant” also for those who are not familiar with Jewish history. We must show that the story of the Hagada is not part of a forgotten past, but shockingly contemporary. As if history, or Jewish history, repeats itself after thousands of years.
Amaleq The first terrorist who attacked Israel when they came out of Egypt defenseless, knew that he could not defeat 3 million Israelites. And this is why its army did not attack from the front but rather its terrorists killed and wounded the weakest: elderly, women, and children. What is not explained in the Torah (deliberately?) is "why" Amaleq wanted to harm Israelite civilians. What was his purpose other than to kill Jews? This mystery was never satisfactorily solved. It was the first time that Amaleq attacked Israel, but not the last. The same as on Purim with Haman a descendant of Amalek, so it is with Hamas In Gaza, and Hesbollah in the North, that we are facing since October 7 2023. -----
THESE ARE THE ENEMIES WE FACE: a 2023/4/5/6. version of Amaleq, whose existential objective is to destroy the people of Israel. Jews are realizing that both in Israel and in the diaspora, we must stay united and STRONG. Today, more than ever until victory “Ad Hanitzahon”.
In the meantime, read the Hagada, we will be saying VEHI SHE’AMDA LA-ABOTENU VELANU, that no matter what happens with our friends and foes, we will never be alone, HASHEM will always be on our side
And the proof is: All our holidays they remind us that we have what no other nation has, Ha'Shem! “All Mighty G-d” who through a promise to our forefathers, He will always protect us. We simply need to acknowledge Him with actions that speaks louder and stronger than words, by celebrating the holidays, especially Pessah marking our Redemption, which gave us independence from tyranny, and the moment that we became a nation with the promise of Sinai and the Revelation.
Pesah is ALSO a time when we gather with our families and friends to read the Haggadah, ask and answer questions, and enjoy the pleasure of being together. There is the added pleasure to know that we are not alone, when family and friends want to be with us. For many of us adults, this is an opportunity to be transported back in time to the sweetness of our youth, when we were in the care of our parents and/or grandparents, when innocence was part of who we were.
As adults, we are now in the driver’s seat with our children and family as we attempt to do our best to make it a memorable Pesah for them so that they, too, can learn and remember the value of family traditions so that the chain of transmission continues.
In time the next generation will appreciate what we do for them as we appreciate what the past generation did for us.
On Pesah, we celebrate the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. This episode in the life and history of our people has become the immortal epic of Israel's history. Our liturgy daily contains references to this historic event. The Kiddush that we recite after we usher in the Shabbath and Yom Tov recalls the glory of that momentous occasion.
There are five mitzvot (commandments) to be fulfilled at the Passover Seder, two Biblical (from the Torah) and three Rabbinical (from our Sages). The two mitzvot from the Torah are: to eat matza (“In the evening you shall eat unleavened bread” - Exodus 12:18) and to tell the story of our exodus from Egypt (“And you shall relate to your son [the story of the exodus] on this day” - Exodus 13:9).
The rabbis added the mitzvot of drinking the four cups of wine, eating marror (bitter herbs) and reciting Hallel (Psalms of praise for the Almighty), as a thank you for the liberation of our people from the bondage of Egypt. During the first two Nights of Pesah, the complete hallel is chanted both in synagogue and at the seder table service at home.
During the times of the Temple in Jerusalem, there were 16 additional mitzvoth, associated with the Pesah offering. All of these mitzvot (commandments) are to help us re-experience the bitter times of the servitude in Egypt and to feel and strengthen our sense of freedom and redemption from Egypt. The matza is called “lehem ani” - the bread of the poor man and “lehem oni” - the bread of affliction. In a play on pronunciation, the Sages also called it the bread over which many things are answered. (from the verb “Ana” It has the dual symbolism of representing our affliction and our redemption. The four cups of wine represent the four different terms for our redemption in the Torah (Exodus 6:6-7). Wine is the drink of free people! Bitter herbs represent affliction. And Hallel is our thanks to the Almighty for our redemption and freedom. Passover is the holiday of freedom i.e: to thank G-d Almighty for all that - physical as well as spiritual freedom.
I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of my wife Cecilia and I, to wish you all our beloved Magain David Congregation membership, Moadim Lesimha – Pesah Sameah, Ve’Kasher.
Rabbi Simon & Cecilia Benzaquen
Undoubtedly, we will find out soon enough, when we realize how much work there is in order to prepare for Pessah; how much cleaning, shopping, baking and cooking there is. We will find out about the extra expenses of Pesah for food and for new items and utensils that might need to be purchased for the holiday. Nevertheless, we do what we must. Ultimately there is an overriding factor for most of us and it will all be worth it. and that is the simple meaning of the saying in Ladino, “Purim, Purim lanu Pesah en la mano” that we have to begin preparing for Pesah as soon as Purim is celebrated. But to my humble opinion this aphorism is a deeper thought, to ponder in gratitude into the celebration of the festivals and holidays.
The Jewish People have been witnesses, have seen miracles, one redemption after another, even before the first one is over. That is why we think about Pesah which is a celebration of “Geulah”. It celebrates the first redemption by G-d Almighty of His Chosen The Jewish People, from a cruel and despot Pharaoh and his Egyptian Empire, even while we are engage with the celebration of Purim from other implacable mortal enemy Haman, who wanted to destroy the Jewish People: Men, Young and old ,women and children. We have to realize, that as we celebrate one thing, we will know that something else will come up that will throw us back to square one when we are worried about our stability, even existence in our lives as individuals and as a People.
“BECHOL DOR VADOR OMEDIM ALENU LE’CHALOTENU”
In every Generation we face those who want to destroy us:-- But, H’.K’.B’.H’.MATZILENU MIYADAM” The Holy One Blessed Is He, saves us from their hands.
The most important thing in all this is: to condition ourselves to know, that Ha'Shem is our protector. That if we have faith in Him we will be all right. So that, as we celebrate one thing, one victory over our enemies, soon somebody else will rise but we will prevail with Ha'Shem's help.
So, as we gather at the Pesah Seder as a family, we should teach the Hagada to our children, family members and guest, not just to READ it in front of them. To teach the Hagada means, among other things, to make it “alive” and “relevant” also for those who are not familiar with Jewish history. We must show that the story of the Hagada is not part of a forgotten past, but shockingly contemporary. As if history, or Jewish history, repeats itself after thousands of years.
Amaleq The first terrorist who attacked Israel when they came out of Egypt defenseless, knew that he could not defeat 3 million Israelites. And this is why its army did not attack from the front but rather its terrorists killed and wounded the weakest: elderly, women, and children. What is not explained in the Torah (deliberately?) is "why" Amaleq wanted to harm Israelite civilians. What was his purpose other than to kill Jews? This mystery was never satisfactorily solved. It was the first time that Amaleq attacked Israel, but not the last. The same as on Purim with Haman a descendant of Amalek, so it is with Hamas In Gaza, and Hesbollah in the North, that we are facing since October 7 2023. -----
THESE ARE THE ENEMIES WE FACE: a 2023/4/5/6. version of Amaleq, whose existential objective is to destroy the people of Israel. Jews are realizing that both in Israel and in the diaspora, we must stay united and STRONG. Today, more than ever until victory “Ad Hanitzahon”.
In the meantime, read the Hagada, we will be saying VEHI SHE’AMDA LA-ABOTENU VELANU, that no matter what happens with our friends and foes, we will never be alone, HASHEM will always be on our side
And the proof is: All our holidays they remind us that we have what no other nation has, Ha'Shem! “All Mighty G-d” who through a promise to our forefathers, He will always protect us. We simply need to acknowledge Him with actions that speaks louder and stronger than words, by celebrating the holidays, especially Pessah marking our Redemption, which gave us independence from tyranny, and the moment that we became a nation with the promise of Sinai and the Revelation.
Pesah is ALSO a time when we gather with our families and friends to read the Haggadah, ask and answer questions, and enjoy the pleasure of being together. There is the added pleasure to know that we are not alone, when family and friends want to be with us. For many of us adults, this is an opportunity to be transported back in time to the sweetness of our youth, when we were in the care of our parents and/or grandparents, when innocence was part of who we were.
As adults, we are now in the driver’s seat with our children and family as we attempt to do our best to make it a memorable Pesah for them so that they, too, can learn and remember the value of family traditions so that the chain of transmission continues.
In time the next generation will appreciate what we do for them as we appreciate what the past generation did for us.
On Pesah, we celebrate the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. This episode in the life and history of our people has become the immortal epic of Israel's history. Our liturgy daily contains references to this historic event. The Kiddush that we recite after we usher in the Shabbath and Yom Tov recalls the glory of that momentous occasion.
There are five mitzvot (commandments) to be fulfilled at the Passover Seder, two Biblical (from the Torah) and three Rabbinical (from our Sages). The two mitzvot from the Torah are: to eat matza (“In the evening you shall eat unleavened bread” - Exodus 12:18) and to tell the story of our exodus from Egypt (“And you shall relate to your son [the story of the exodus] on this day” - Exodus 13:9).
The rabbis added the mitzvot of drinking the four cups of wine, eating marror (bitter herbs) and reciting Hallel (Psalms of praise for the Almighty), as a thank you for the liberation of our people from the bondage of Egypt. During the first two Nights of Pesah, the complete hallel is chanted both in synagogue and at the seder table service at home.
During the times of the Temple in Jerusalem, there were 16 additional mitzvoth, associated with the Pesah offering. All of these mitzvot (commandments) are to help us re-experience the bitter times of the servitude in Egypt and to feel and strengthen our sense of freedom and redemption from Egypt. The matza is called “lehem ani” - the bread of the poor man and “lehem oni” - the bread of affliction. In a play on pronunciation, the Sages also called it the bread over which many things are answered. (from the verb “Ana” It has the dual symbolism of representing our affliction and our redemption. The four cups of wine represent the four different terms for our redemption in the Torah (Exodus 6:6-7). Wine is the drink of free people! Bitter herbs represent affliction. And Hallel is our thanks to the Almighty for our redemption and freedom. Passover is the holiday of freedom i.e: to thank G-d Almighty for all that - physical as well as spiritual freedom.
I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of my wife Cecilia and I, to wish you all our beloved Magain David Congregation membership, Moadim Lesimha – Pesah Sameah, Ve’Kasher.
Rabbi Simon & Cecilia Benzaquen
