Tie Us to the Holiday | Rabbi Haggai Lundin | Beit Midrash

Shabbat and Holidays
Additional Lessons

קטגוריה משנית

Today we mark Isru Chag Pesach, the day after Passover.

The origin of the name Isru Chag is from the verse "Bind the festival with cords, and from there to the horns of the altar" (Psalms 118, 27), i.e., tie the holiday sacrifice (which we offered in the Temple) on the corners of the altar. In other words, we are so attached to the joy of the holiday (which is expressed in the sacrifice) that it is difficult for us to separate from it. We stretch our feeling of happiness to the maximum; we hold onto the 'horns of the altar' in order to gain another day of holiness (this is also one of the reasons for the Mimouna celebrations). Many of us have a fear, and rightly so, of the days ahead; difficult decisions are facing the people of Israel. Those who are "bound to the horns of the altar" are not afraid of anything.

Most of us do not have to make the decisions, but we all have to prepare ourselves mentally for them. Today is the time to gather strength for the future. The adjacent verses are: "You are my Almighty, and I will give thanks to you. My God, I will exalt you" (ibid. 28-29). In every reality we find ourselves, we will thank God; do not be moved by the voices of despair and hatred. There is Someone stronger than them Who decides what will be, and to Whom we give thanks both on holidays and on weekdays.

Happy Isru Chag!

Join me in getting stronger together
WhatsApp (English) --> https://did.li/QEegT

WhatsApp (Hebrew) --> https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaOdv3pBPzjbCryCm53k