What do Aharon and Achasherosh have in common? Answer - everything and nothing. As noted in a much earlier shiur, there are many connections between Purim and Pesach - one being the drinking of wine to the level of inebriation (think 4 cups, preferably intoxicating - downed in one go...and two of them on an empty stomach). The Megilla has drink after drink after drink. At the beginning of the story, Achashverosh walks in, dressed in the clothes of Aharon the High Priest - attempting to display how he is just like that original pursuer of peace. But he was an ersatz Aharon, serving the self, rather than the people. Diametrically opposed to Aharon's selflessness and care for others

In his homogeneous approach, this plastic man was displaying himself (and others - to their detriment - think Vashti) and his own splendour - in the end, a lack of dignity. Just a dedicated follower of fashion. The real splendour belongs to Aharon - who recognised the dignity of difference. Splendour is defined in the dictionary as 'great beauty that attracts admiration and attention'. Is this what Aharon HaKohen was doing? Certainly not! Is this what Achasverosh was doing? Certainly yes. Splendor - perhaps the closest word we have for Hod - its first appearance in the Omer. It suggests real relationship, real peace between all. Peace through acts of kindness.

Let us see how we can trace this, scrolling through Megillas Esther, Megillas Shir Hashirim and to Megillas Rus...

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We are family. We know that. We live by that. What is the nature of this togetherness? Relationship, and the burning desire to remain close to your Beloved. The more you know about your other, the more you understand them and the closer you will feel. Above all, remaining as consistently faithful to them will cement the relationship - another motif consistently found in Pesach's Megilla of Shir Hashirim. Amalek understood this all too well, when they tried to shatter the chain of our Mesora, our consistency - and still do it today - Midor Dor - in every generation - how apposite for Pesach!

But you need to be consistent in the right things! If you lovingly buy your wife lillies every Friday for ten years...but she is allergic to them (or just doesn't like them!), you've missed the point...

Emerson famously said: 

'A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.' 

Real consistency will breed a real hero...hero Israel - Hashem is our G-d

Too much kindness can sometimes be a bad thing. Too much strictness isn't too pleasant either - just ask schoolchildren of a particular bygone age. When Hashem created the world, He created it with a perfect balance or synthesis, between benevolence and self-discipline. 

This can be translated into our everyday practice of real kindness - not just the one that allows us to give ourselves a jingoistic slap on the back, but  is rather for the benefit of the recipient. 

Beware the subtle line between serving the self and the other...

If we understood correctly, Week one of the Omer is Chesed - kindness, week two is strict justice etc. And on each week, day one is kindness, day two is strict justice and the pattern continues.

So day one of week one? I get it - I attempt to achieve kindness in its fullest aspect. But day two of week one? How does strict justice make any sense within the context of kindness? Surely it is an oxymoron?

Perhaps the answer lies within the lofty concept of tzelem Elokim - the Image of G-d...or Imitato Dei. This tells us that, in order to get close to Him, we need to be like Him. But how? Let's have a look...

I've prepared really well for Pesach and now I'm ready to listen to all of those motivational messages of  how Hashem loves us and how to get closer to Him and....

...wait - you mean I have to change? Whoa! I didn't realise that this was part of the deal! I just thought I say the nice Divrei Torah, get a bit inspired and voila. No? I guess I must have missed something.

So here is step one...of your personal 49 step guide to reality. Get ready for some unconditional positive regard. Remember - if you do it, so will He.

No, it's not a joke - the phoenix is important in our tradition. As I gazed into the dying embers of the burned Chometz, and as the occasional tongue of fire forked out in between the former pieces of bread, I thought of the phoenix, its deep significance, and how - in the last few hours before Pesach, we could learn something hugely beneficial...You see, one reference to this mysterious creature, has it cooped up with Noach - in splendid isolation (perhaps with a little more company than we have today, but with no wifi access). Its selflessness is a real lesson for us as we move towrds reconnecting with G-d.

Enjoy...

Good Yom tov!

Have you finished your Pesach cleaning yet? I would have thought so. So what are you looking for? And why check every nook and cranny. And with a dripping candle at that.

It turns out that the search, whilst on the surface may be for chometz, exposes a deeper, fiercer scrutiny of the self. One has to be ready for a painful experience. In order to maximise our entry to Pesach and meeting with our Creator, we have to let the mask drop and meet our real selves...

Why are we obsessed with time? Be it in terms of cycles of years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes and even seconds...the festivals are defined by time. Moed (festival), really means a meeting point. The very first Moed - Pesach, is where we meet our Beloved...skipping over the hills to meet us. Skipping over the houses at midnight to get to our appointment with time. On time.

Every second counts.

When Hashem decided it was time for us to go, He stopped the clock. Every moment with His people is precious. When He struck the Egyptians, it was at a moment that defied time. This is exemplified by the Matza - one moment too long and it is chametz. What is so important about Hashem acting in this way? Is this another example about how He runs the show? It sure is. Shall we find out?

It's about time...

Did you know that you are allowed to test Hashem? The haftorah of shabbos HaGadol suggests that you can try it, by giving a tenth of your earnings. But there may be an even greater way of tithing...giving of that which can not be returned...your time. 

This, in turn, brings us to the end of time, where the 5th son returns, the 5th cup is drunk. And the 5th expression of redemption is realised.

What is it about sheep? When saying Kiddush Levono tonight, I thought about the (absent) clouds being sheep without legs. But why did the Egyptians set such great store by them? And why did we need to goat...I mean goad the Egyptians with sheep?