Home The Matzah Money Connection

The Matzah Money Connection

by breslov.org
image_print

Matza and Mann (the manna which fell from the sky while the Jews were travelling through the desert) are interrelated. The Matzah was baked while in a rush thus not allowing for any occurrences to sneak in and render the Matza chometz (leaven.) This is the same as faith and trust in G-d, without any physical work or labor. We also find that when the Jews left Egypt the Torah says, “And they did not prepare provisions for the way.” G-d therefore gave the Jews Mann because of their great faith. However Chometz is nature, the natural pursuit for livelihood through working and toiling. This gives opportunity for the Yetzer Hara (evil side) to sneak in and take hold of this pursuit, even leading to stealing and charging interest because of the great lust for money. However Chometz – nature, is only able to take hold because of the Divine strict judgment that exists in the world alongside Divine kindness, allowing for free will. When we sweeten the strict judgment, then the strict judgment becomes compassion, and nature transforms into Divine Providence. We sweeten the judgment by having true faith where even nature is Divine and all of ones livelihood and money come only because he knows G-d has willed this to be. That which we are required to do some form of effort in earning our livelihood is only because of G-d’s great miracles which we can’t understand whatsoever. For certainly G-d who created the entire world from nothing, is obviously able to make trees and vegetation grow without any help from mankind. However, it is G-d’s desire that mankind take part in this process and likewise with earning a living. Once we understand this, then even the effort that we put into our jobs becomes very holy so that we can truly earn a living with honesty. This is the concept of ”proper is Torah when combined with the way of the land.” This is also why Chometz is forbidden on Pesach until after the crossing of the Sea of Reeds. This process continues and climaxes on Shavuot where the offering brought in the Temple actually consists of Chometz.

Based on Reb Noson, Likutey Halachos

Translated by Yossi Katz
Breslov Research Institute

© Copyright 2009 Breslov Research Institute

Leave a Comment