Friday, January 22, 2010

Do We Stand For Or Against ?

The Ramban comments that there is a lesson to be learned from the specific animal that Hashem chose to be sacrificed in eternal commemoration of the exodus from Mitzrayim. The Egyptians worshiped the sheep. Moreover, the very constellation that reigns high in the sky during the month of Nissan is the sheep (or Aries). The act of slaughtering the sheep for our korban Pesach displays our belief that the gods of Egypt are empty gods, and also that the exodus was not "fated by the stars". It wasn't the act of any given power or constellation that plucked the Jewish nation from bondage - but Hashem, and only Hashem.
While it is important to always know what you stand for. It is equally important to demonstrate, quite clearly at times, what you stand against. Were we to simply trumpet the role of the Almighty in the exodus without specifically renouncing the "power of the stars", later generations may have come to the erroneous conclusion that they are both responsible for the salvation !
In today's age of pluralism and globalism this lesson is perhaps all the more poignant. I must know what I believe is true - but no less important is what I believe is false.

What ideas do you stand against ?

Hatzlacha !!

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