Passover Night’s Transformative Power

יכול מר"ח ת"ל ביום ההוא כו' בעבור זה כו'.

“One might think (the obligation begins) from Rosh Ḥodesh; therefore the verse teaches ‘on that day’… ‘because of this…’”

The Sefat Emet begins by explaining that although one could imagine the mitzvah starts earlier, the Torah specifies “on that day” and “because of this,” pointing to the unique revelation of that night.

דהנה מחויבים לעולם לזכור יצ"מ אך אין יכולין לספר ולברר יצ"מ כראוי רק בלילה הזה.

For we are obligated always to remember the Exodus, yet we are unable to recount and elucidate it properly except on this night.

There is a constant obligation to remember the Exodus, but true clarification and depth of telling can only occur on the Seder night, when a special revelation is present.

לכן כתיב בעבור זה שהוא התגלות הגאולה בלבות בנ"י ומצות לילה זו מועילין על כל השנה שנוכל להזכיר יצ"מ.

Therefore it is written “because of this,” meaning the revelation of redemption in the hearts of Israel; and the mitzvot of this night empower the entire year so that we may remember the Exodus.

The phrase “because of this” refers to the inner revelation awakened on the Seder night. The mitzvot done then illuminate the rest of the year, enabling the ongoing remembrance of the Exodus.

לכן כתיב למען תזכור פי' ע"י עבודת לילה זו תזכור כל ימי חייך.

Thus it is written “so that you shall remember,” meaning that through the service of this night you will remember all the days of your life.

The special action of Seder night grants strength for the continual fulfillment of remembering the Exodus throughout every day of life.

ואיתא בזוה"ק אי חמץ מרמז ליצה"ר למה הותר כל השנה.

The Zohar asks: if leaven alludes to the evil inclination, why is it permitted the entire year?

The Zohar raises a profound question: if ḥametz symbolizes spiritual danger, why is it not prohibited year-round?

ומתרץ על פי משל שהחולה נזהר איזה ימים נתחזק ואין מזיק לו שוב ע"ש פ' בא.

And it answers with a parable: a sick person avoids certain foods for some days, and once strengthened, they no longer harm him.

The Zohar explains that one avoids ḥametz during days of spiritual vulnerability, and afterward, once fortified, it no longer presents the same danger.

וז"ש שע"י מצות אלו תזכור כל ימי חייך אף שתאכל בהם חמץ ושאור.

Thus it says that through these mitzvot you will remember all the days of your life, even though you will eat ḥametz and leaven during them.

The Seder-night mitzvot grant spiritual resilience for the whole year, even when engaging with the symbolic “leaven” representing ego or inclination.

רק בשבעת הימים החמיר כ"כ בחמץ ובמשהו.

Only during the seven days did the Torah impose such strictness concerning even the slightest amount of ḥametz.

These days, marking the beginning of redemption, require complete removal of symbolic impurity.

והענין הוא כי בהתחלת קבלת עול מלכות שמים צריכין לקבל על עצמו בכל כחו.

And the idea is that at the beginning of accepting the yoke of Heaven, one must take it upon himself with full strength.

The start of spiritual commitment demands a heightened level of purity and intensity.

כאשר הגיד אא"ז מו"ר ז"ל בענין אזהרת יהושע את בנ"י בעודם בירדן שלא ישאירו מז' עממין וע"י שקיבלו עליהם בלב שלם עברו הירדן ע"ש.

As my master and grandfather taught regarding Joshua’s warning to Israel, while still in the Jordan, not to leave any of the seven nations; and because they accepted this wholeheartedly, they crossed the Jordan.

The Sefat Emet brings a parallel: Israel succeeded only because they accepted the divine command with complete resolve at the outset.

וכלל הענין ללמד בא כי בתחילת העבודה צריך להיות בבל יראה ובל ימצא אף משהו בראשית השנה וזה מסייע על כל השנה.

The general lesson is that at the beginning of spiritual work one must have “no seeing and no finding” even of the slightest trace, and this empowers the entire year.

The initial cleansing on Passover sets the spiritual tone for all subsequent growth. Total removal at the start ensures balance and strength later.

The Sefat Emet teaches that the unique revelation of Seder night fuels remembrance of the Exodus throughout the year. By removing all ḥametz at the year’s spiritual beginning, we gain the strength to engage the world, even with its challenges, in a sanctified way.