Two types of bread were eaten by Israel: when they
left Egypt [on Pesach] they ate matzah, the bread of affliction and
in the wilderness [on the Holiday of Shavuot, when the Torah
was given] they ate bread from heaven, as it is written: "Behold, I
will rain for you bread from heaven". (Ex. 16:4) Therefore, the offering of
this day [Shavuot] is bread [we bring two leavened breads
corresponding to the Manna] and all the other offerings were offered in
addition to the bread. The bread is the main part, as is written: "You shall
bring out of your dwellings
two wave-loaves". (Lev. 23:17) For this is the bread [the
Manna] through which Israel became wise with the supernal Wisdom of the
Torah, and entered its ways [for the Manna's
unique qualities prepared and
opened their hearts up to the Torah].
We should now observe that during Pesach, Israel came
away from the bread [from the domain of the kelipot, the Other
Side] that is called 'chametz', as it is written: "And no chametz
shall be seen" (Ex. 13:7), and: "For whoever eats that which is leavened.
(Ex. 12:19) What is the reason [that eating chametz on Pesach was
forbidden]? It is because of the honor of the bread that is called 'matzah'.
Now that Israel merited a higher bread, would it not have been proper for the
chametz to be abolished and not be seen at all? Why was the offering [on
Shavuot] chametz, as it is written: "they shall be of fine flour;
they shall be baked with leaven"? (Lev. 23:17) Also on this day [that the
Torah was given], the Evil Inclination [the secret of chametz] was
negated, as the Torah, that is called 'freedom', was available?
There is a story of a king who had an only son
who became ill. One day he wished to eat. They said: Let the king's son take
this medicine, but before he eats it, no food whatsoever should be in the house.
They did so. After he had taken the medicine, they said: From now on he may eat
whatever he desires and it will do him no harm.
Similarly, when Israel left Egypt, they did not know
the essence and secret of Faith. G-d let Israel taste medicine, and until they
take this medicine, no other food should be visible to them . As soon as they
had eaten matzah, which is a curative to aid in coming into and knowing
the secret of faith, G-d said: 'From now on, chametz is suitable for them
and they may eat it, because it can no longer harm them' [the Evil
Inclination is not aroused by it]. And more so on the day of Shavuot, when
the supernal bread [the manna] was present, which is a complete cure!
Therefore, we offer chametz [on that
day] to be burnt on the altar. [The bread is not itself burnt on the
altar, as no chametz is allowed to be put on the altar, but they are
eaten by the kohanim. However, since these loaves are offered and waved together
with the two sheep offerings that are burnt on the altar in honor of the
festival, it is as if they too had been burnt and thus have the ability to burn
up the Evil Inclination.] The two loaves of bread are offered together as
one. The [power of the] chametz is burned in the fire on
the altar [by way of burning the two sheep offerings], and cannot have
power over nor harm Israel. Therefore, Israel cleave to G-d on this day through
the remedy of Torah.
BeRahamim LeHayyim:
Why did the Ari and Chida include this section? What do they want
us to learn?
So here is one of the intentions of eating matzah, and
not eating chametz during Pesach, which falls--can it really be?!--five
weeks from tonight. What may be novel for many is the division of our
drive for negativity into "male" and "female" energies. Don't get caught
up in any gender-bias issues: think active and passive.
An example of active negativity would be to affirmatively violate mitzvot and
not caring about consequences. An example of passive negativity would be
to mess with someone in a passive agressive fashion, or perhaps just not to lift
a finger to assist another in need. We work on both of these during the
week of Pesach. On Shavuot, when we receive the Torah fresh and renewed,
we are commanded to bring chametz. That is because we are so strong
and cured after 7 weeks of self-refection during Omer, we can handle any
presence of "puffy inflated-ego" type bread in our presence.
What does the above mean to you, and why is it being
revealed to you today?
[Bracketed annotations from Metok Midevash and Sulam commentaries]
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