Sermon -- Passover First Born
Rabbi Moshe P. Weisblum
March 16, 2002
The day before yesterday we blessed the start of the month (Rosh-Chodesh) of Nissan. This means that Pesach will be here very soon. There is a well-known tradition that every firstborn son should fast the day before Passover. The reason is to commemorate G-d’s extreme punishment of the Egyptians with the ten plagues. G-d’s ultimate punishment was the last plague that slew the firstborn Egyptian sons. However every Hebrew family that followed G-d’s instruction to mark their doorposts with lamb’s blood was saved.
Consequently, we follow the custom of requiring every firstborn male to fast the day before Pesach. Because Erev Pesach requires a lot of special preparations, it may be very hard to fast at that time. Therefore, the Sages created a substitute custom, which is called a Siyum. This means that instead of fasting one may substitute the completion (Siyum) of studying a portion of Talmud. Or at the very least one may participate with a study group that completes a Talmudic tractate on that day. Right after the Siyum, at the conclusion of the study period, we make a special feast (Kiddush) in honor of the completion of the portion. This custom was and still is universally accepted throughout Jewish communities in the world. We at Kneseth Israel will have a traditional Siyum next Wednesday.
I would like to share with you an important story, which I witnessed myself twelve years ago. It occurred on the eve of Passover when I was called to be the tenth man for the Siyum in the home of one of the oldest Rabbis in Israel. His name is Rabbi Dov Be’er Eliezerov, who now, in his upper 90’s, is known to be a tremendously pious man. He studies day and night. His appearance is still vivid to me. He had a long white beard, a Chassidic hat and long black coat, and a face that looked like the great Rembrandt portrait of the sage and righteous.
It was a tremendous honor and a special occasion for me to sit with such a great man to partake in his Siyum the night before Passover. It was 2 AM and we were studying, when suddenly from outside a knock and moan was heard at Rabbi Eliezerov’s front door. A friend of mine, Rabbi Glick, opened the door and to his surprise found a large dog sitting there. He closed the door and returned to the table. Moments later, moaning and banging was heard again. Again, Rabbi Glick opened the door and saw the dog. He chuckled, closed the door and returned to the table. Seconds later, we heard the same intense moaning and banging. This time, I went to the door and saw the dog. He had a very strange and woebegone expression. I decided to leave the door open and upon returning to the table, explained to the old Rabbi what had happened.
The old Rabbi ordered that the dog should be allowed to enter the room, and the dog eagerly walked in. The dog immediately focused on Rabbi Eliezerov and sat near him, licking his shoes and rubbing his head against his legs, crying at the same time. The Rabbi took careful note of the dog and finished the Siyum. He then summoned each member of the group to rise. We didn’t understand the reason for this, and thought the whole scene was somewhat weird. In a serious tone, Rabbi Eliezerov ordered the group to say, "I forgive you" (in Hebrew ‘salachti’) to the dog. In disbelief, but out of great respect for the Rabbi everyone complied. When the group finished, the Rabbi told the dog, "Go in Peace and Rest in Peace." Having heard those words, the dog picked itself up, left the room and was not heard from again. After the Siyum, upon leaving the Rabbi’s house, we discovered the dog lying dead outside the building near the steps.
This happened on the Eve of Passover. I feel that this story illustrates what our sages have told us, that the soul given to each person comes directly from G-d. Sometimes a soul can migrate into an animal to fulfill its mission in this world. We never know where a soul may be found. Judaism teaches us that because our concept of the total world is sometimes limited and incomplete we should never pass final judgment on anyone. The sages emphasize that we should be circumspect and deliberate in all of our judgments. In the case of the dog, a soul was undoubtedly returned to receive final forgiveness from one of the greatest, most righteous men of our time. Spirituality is all around us. We must only look carefully to see it everywhere.
This story is part of this booklet called Nine Short Wonderful Stories which I published several years ago. I plan to distribute this booklet as my Afikoman gift to those who participate at the community Seder on March 28th. May this story which I share with you this morning serve as an example to all of us. No matter how exalted or simple the person is we have to judge each person on his/her own merits as the sages teaches us "judge justly and walk humbly before G-d, L’kaf Zacut, as the late saint Rabbi Eliezerov did with the dog. We also have to pay homage to this Tzaddik and yet he allow the dog to enter his home and sit by his feet.
It is a custom at this time of the year to wish one another a kosher and a freilech Pesach. On behalf of my entire family, let me wish each and everyone in our community a kosher freilech Pesach which means a kosher and happy Passover. Shabbat Shalom
Copyright Moshe P. Weisblum, All Rights Reserved.
Consequently, we follow the custom of requiring every firstborn male to fast the day before Pesach. Because Erev Pesach requires a lot of special preparations, it may be very hard to fast at that time. Therefore, the Sages created a substitute custom, which is called a Siyum. This means that instead of fasting one may substitute the completion (Siyum) of studying a portion of Talmud. Or at the very least one may participate with a study group that completes a Talmudic tractate on that day. Right after the Siyum, at the conclusion of the study period, we make a special feast (Kiddush) in honor of the completion of the portion. This custom was and still is universally accepted throughout Jewish communities in the world. We at Kneseth Israel will have a traditional Siyum next Wednesday.
I would like to share with you an important story, which I witnessed myself twelve years ago. It occurred on the eve of Passover when I was called to be the tenth man for the Siyum in the home of one of the oldest Rabbis in Israel. His name is Rabbi Dov Be’er Eliezerov, who now, in his upper 90’s, is known to be a tremendously pious man. He studies day and night. His appearance is still vivid to me. He had a long white beard, a Chassidic hat and long black coat, and a face that looked like the great Rembrandt portrait of the sage and righteous.
It was a tremendous honor and a special occasion for me to sit with such a great man to partake in his Siyum the night before Passover. It was 2 AM and we were studying, when suddenly from outside a knock and moan was heard at Rabbi Eliezerov’s front door. A friend of mine, Rabbi Glick, opened the door and to his surprise found a large dog sitting there. He closed the door and returned to the table. Moments later, moaning and banging was heard again. Again, Rabbi Glick opened the door and saw the dog. He chuckled, closed the door and returned to the table. Seconds later, we heard the same intense moaning and banging. This time, I went to the door and saw the dog. He had a very strange and woebegone expression. I decided to leave the door open and upon returning to the table, explained to the old Rabbi what had happened.
The old Rabbi ordered that the dog should be allowed to enter the room, and the dog eagerly walked in. The dog immediately focused on Rabbi Eliezerov and sat near him, licking his shoes and rubbing his head against his legs, crying at the same time. The Rabbi took careful note of the dog and finished the Siyum. He then summoned each member of the group to rise. We didn’t understand the reason for this, and thought the whole scene was somewhat weird. In a serious tone, Rabbi Eliezerov ordered the group to say, "I forgive you" (in Hebrew ‘salachti’) to the dog. In disbelief, but out of great respect for the Rabbi everyone complied. When the group finished, the Rabbi told the dog, "Go in Peace and Rest in Peace." Having heard those words, the dog picked itself up, left the room and was not heard from again. After the Siyum, upon leaving the Rabbi’s house, we discovered the dog lying dead outside the building near the steps.
This happened on the Eve of Passover. I feel that this story illustrates what our sages have told us, that the soul given to each person comes directly from G-d. Sometimes a soul can migrate into an animal to fulfill its mission in this world. We never know where a soul may be found. Judaism teaches us that because our concept of the total world is sometimes limited and incomplete we should never pass final judgment on anyone. The sages emphasize that we should be circumspect and deliberate in all of our judgments. In the case of the dog, a soul was undoubtedly returned to receive final forgiveness from one of the greatest, most righteous men of our time. Spirituality is all around us. We must only look carefully to see it everywhere.
This story is part of this booklet called Nine Short Wonderful Stories which I published several years ago. I plan to distribute this booklet as my Afikoman gift to those who participate at the community Seder on March 28th. May this story which I share with you this morning serve as an example to all of us. No matter how exalted or simple the person is we have to judge each person on his/her own merits as the sages teaches us "judge justly and walk humbly before G-d, L’kaf Zacut, as the late saint Rabbi Eliezerov did with the dog. We also have to pay homage to this Tzaddik and yet he allow the dog to enter his home and sit by his feet.
It is a custom at this time of the year to wish one another a kosher and a freilech Pesach. On behalf of my entire family, let me wish each and everyone in our community a kosher freilech Pesach which means a kosher and happy Passover. Shabbat Shalom
Copyright Moshe P. Weisblum, All Rights Reserved.
