Chapter 2

The Jewish holidays and festivals which we have been graciously granted by G-d are not limited to a particular timeframe. Though each seventh day is Shabbos, the first day of Tishrei is Rosh HaShanah, the fifteenth day of Nissan is Pesach, and so on, every festival mirrors the spiritual life of each and every Jew. The spiritual life of a Jew is his true life. It was for this purpose that G-d sent our divine souls to animate our physical bodies and fulfill the intent of creation.

Exile in and liberation from Egypt are constantly recurring, as are all other spiritual matters, in man’s spiritual service. The descent of a soul into a body, with the G-dly soul clothing itself in the rational-natural soul and the animal soul, is termed “exile in Egypt.” The root of the word mitzrayim, the Hebrew name for Egypt, is meitzar, meaning strait or limitation.

When the G-dly soul descends into the body and natural soul, its spirituality is severely constrained. There can be no comparison between what the soul now feels and understands of G-dliness and what it felt and understood prior to its descent. The process of incorporation takes a heavy toll on the soul’s spiritual state. However, this “exile in Egypt” serves a purpose, that being the spiritual liberation from Egypt.

Spiritually, mitzrayim is [composed of the two Hebrew words] meitzar mi1 “ straits of who.” It is written:2 “Lift up your eyes heavenwards and see mi [the Hebrew word for who] created all this.” The verse is telling us to use discernment so that we may comprehend G-dliness and realize who created everything. It is necessary to study Torah and Chassidus. Then one gains an understanding of creation; that only the blessed G-d created it.

Understanding and meditating on these matters leads a person to a closer and clearer comprehension of G-d’s greatness.

Profound understanding of G-dliness inevitably leads to an arousal of love and awe. It is written:3 “Man [in Hebrew ish] is commended according to his intelligence.” The word ish alludes to the emotional attributes, as the verse states:4 “As is an ish, so is his strength.” Each person’s emotional attributes are in accordance with his comprehension, for intellectual understanding gives rise to the emotions. This is the meaning of “mi created all this” [in Hebrew “all this” is translated as eileh]. Mi refers to the comprehension of binah5 [the second of the three intellectual attributes], which is responsible for eileh the emotional attributes. The emotional attributes constitute a heartfelt desire and longing. They are a product of contemplation and comprehension.

In summary: All festivals and holidays are mirrored in a Jew’s spiritual life. The descent of the G-dly soul into the body and natural rational intellect is spiritual exile, since the soul’s comprehension and feelings are severely constrained compared to is prior state. Emotional attributes are a product of comprehension.