How to slaughter the god of Egypt

Rebbe Nachman said, that through Passover, one can fix his unhealthy relationship with money. Here’s the way to do it!

Passover is coming up next week. Rebbe Nachman said, that through Passover, one can fix his unhealthy relationship with money. Passover is the holiday that we celebrate our redemption from the slavery in Egypt and the beginning of our journey to the Land of Israel.

Egypt represented the misconception that one can earn a living without G-ds constant help. They believed that everything works by nature.  Egypt was on the banks of the Nile River, which gave them a constants supply of water for their fields. They did not have to look up to heaven to pray for rain. They thus had the attitude that they can do it on their own by harnessing the forces of nature. They made The Nile River in to one of their gods.

Another god of Egypt was the sheep, which represented riches in that period. They served money itself. Money was the goal not a means. They had a never-ending lust for more money, never satisfied with what they had.

The Jewish people became subjugated by their ideas. They fell into this sorry state of believing, that its up to them to bring in the cash. Because of this misconception, they put in great efforts and experienced great hardship to earning living.  They were trapped in this bitter lust for more, never being able to experience the joy of appreciating what they had. Egypt in Hebrew is Mitzrayim which mean constriction. Being trapped in Egypt meant to be constricted by their mindset. Their mind was always busy with how they can make money. Even when they made money, they were never happy with what they had, they always needed more. They could not develop relationships with their family and friends, as their life was taken over by their work. Their mind was clogged. There was no room for thoughts of how they can get closer to G-d and do his will. They had no space for eternal goals or to live a life for a reason beyond themselves.

But their Jewish souls could not live with this Egyptian reality. They felt crushed and sad, as if their life were sucked out of them. So, they cried to G-d from the depths of their heart, “We do not want to live like this, we want out”. G-d listened to their cry and thus began the beginning of the redemption.

They served money itself. Money was the goal not a means. They had a never-ending lust for more money, never satisfied with what they had…

G-d first attacked the misconception that everything runs by nature. He turned their water source into blood rendering their god to be useless.

G-d wanted the Jews to contribute towards their redemption as well. He therefore gave the commandment to sacrifice a lamb, on the night before they left Egypt. The Jews slaughtering of the lamb, represented them killing the god of the Egyptians. Getting rid of the belief in the means as the source of livelihood, as well as the means being the ends. Now they were going uplift money, and use it for the will of G-d. Now they can use their money for a higher purpose to do G-ds commandments, and to give charity. They can give with no concerns about them using up the money they need for themselves. They now know that its not them that earns the money, rather it is all from G-d. The work they put in, is just fulfilling G-ds desire that people should work, but it is not actually what brings in the money. Since the money is from G-d, it cannot be that they will lose out by doing G-ds will. When they give charity, they will cool down their burning desire for money itself. They will be able to live life for a higher, more meaningful and eternal purpose.

We cannot bring the Pascal Lamb because the Holy Temple is not yet built. But we can use our money for eternal things such as charity!…

Now they are ready for the redemption to go towards the Land of Israel. The Good and Expansive Land. A land where one works the land but at the same time looks heavenward for  G-ds help. A good land where one gives Bikkurim, Terumot, and tithes from his crops. A place where one’s relationship with money is without constrictions. A land with expansive view of earning a living for an eternal purpose.

Now we cannot bring the Pascal Lamb because the Holy Temple is not yet built. But we can use our money for eternal things such as charity and in order to fulfill G-ds other commandments. When we use our money for G-dly things we are in essence slaughtering the god of Egypt. Ridding ourselves of the misconception, that it’s our hard-earned money and that our goal is money itself.

This could explain why Passover is such an expensive holiday. In order to keep G-ds commandment of Passover properly, one must spend a lot of money. He must buy kosher for Passover food, matzot, new dishes etc. This idea can also explain the tradition to give a lot of charity before Passover, to help others with their holiday needs as well. By doing these things with our money, we can experience a personal redemption from our enslavement in the Land of Constriction This is our way of helping ourselves get clear where the source of our livelihood is from. It also helps cooling down our desire for more money and be happy with what we have. When one is happy with what he has, that is the greatest freedom. Now his mind is free to think about other things besides money. He can focus on his relationship with his family and with his Creator.  May we merit to experience the final redemption.

May we all come to the Land of Israel and bring the Lamb Offering in Jerusalem this year.