Heavenly Awakening VS. Earthly Awakening

On Passover the redemption was only through an upper awakening (meaning that G-d had to wake us up) for we hadn’t yet received the Torah. Even though we are taught that on Passover we receive tremendous new insight, nevertheless we still do not merit to receive the light of keter* which arranges and straightens out our intellect. The main way to effect and draw down the light of keter, is by doing many mitzvoth and good deeds with joy. This is why chometz-leavened bread is extremely forbidden on Passover, because the only way to receive from chometz** in a holy way is after one has straightened out his intellect. Therefore on Shavuot, where we finally merit to receive the Torah and hence the light of Keter, since we have prepared ourselves (this is the lower awakening, where we effected the awakening) through the days of the sefirah, it is a mitzvah to bring the offering in the temple specifically from chometz.

*The G-dly crown and highest level of 10 sefirot or Divine emanations.

** Because essentially leavened and unleavened bread contain the same ingredients, only that leavened bread had time to rise, this extra air represents G-dly concealment.

Based on Reb Noson, Likutey Halachot

Translated by Yossi Katz
Breslov Research Institute

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