One of the Mitzvot preceding Pesach is the Mitzvah of "Kimcha DePischa" - or "Pesach Flour." The Mitzvah includes not only the giving of charity for the sake of flour - so that the poor can have Matzah on Pesach, but also the much needed charity to allow others in need to be able to celebrate the festival with joy. Without life's most basic necessities such as food, clothing and shelter, most individuals find it difficult to celebrate a festival like Pesach with joy (or to celebrate any part of life for that matter!)
We offer you the opportunity to enjoy a video clip of the Lubavitcher Rebbe speaking about the great value of giving at this time of year, and then the additional opportunity to make an actual difference in the lives of some families living in Israel in actual need of food, clothing and other - to make their Pesach one filled with joy.
We hope you'll be a part of it - helping another to feel the true freedom that Pesach gives each of us - and in return that you too should be blessed with a Pesach that brings you the freedom you need in all of your own life's trials.
You can donate by simply clicking on the donate button below, or alternatively by visiting the "Bayit Chadash - Wedding Project" and learning more about our assisting newly married couples to be able to set up their own homes together without the additional crisis of having to deal with financial worries at the very start of their marriage. Should you wish to find our more, all contact information is available on those pages. Remember, though the Bayit Chadash project is about helping couples to marry - this also includes setting up their home - and giving them the opportunity to pay for their most basic expenses - such as the Pesach Seder and more - as they build their Bayit Ne'eman Be'Yisrael.
Enjoy the video!
FOUR CUPS OF MILK?!
One of the Mitzvot at the Seder is to drink four cups of wine. It happened one eve of Pesach, that Rabbi Chaim of Brisk heard a knocking at his door. He opened the door to find a poor man who had a Halachic question to ask of the great rabbi. "Rabbi," said the man, "Can one fulfill one's obligation for the four cups - by drinking four cups of milk?" Rabbi Chaim thought for a few moments... He then turned to his wife and asked her for five rubles which he immediately gave to the poor man and wished him a happy Pesach!
After leaving, the rabbi's wife asked him why he had given the poor man such a large sum of money. In fact, he had only wanted to know if he could fulfill his obligation by drinking four cups of milk! In any case, even one ruble would have sufficed for providing the man with wine throughout the entire Pesach holiday! Rabbi Chaim replied, "Since the man is asking about fulfilling his obligation on wine, he had hinted to two things. The first was the fact that he could not afford the wine. The second - which required a little more concern and thought - was that he had asked about fulfilling his obligation on milk. Surely - if he had asked about milk, he also lacked the money to purchase meat (which would have been forbidden to eat together with the milk!)" Rabbi Chaim had heard a question that was not being asked. He had heard the other asking for something needed - but for the additional embarrassment of asking - was avoided!
We so often see others asking for assistance etc. and even in their asking, they seem to require just a little something basic. To such a degree that we feel we can even discharge our obligation to give by giving just that small amount necessary.
But it takes a sensitive soul to hear the true words of the one asking for "flour for Pesach." Surely, if they are lacking the means to own flour, they may also lack the means to own beautiful new garments for the festival. They may even be in need of a fridge to store their food. They may lack a stove upon which to cook. And who knows... they may even lack their own home to eat in...
Kimcha D'Pischa - teaches us the true meaning of sensitivity. When we give, we let the other know that the money is there to help them buy Matzot. But what we really mean to say is - "Here... take this wealth and see to it that you have meat too. See to it that you and your family have brand new clothing... See to it to buy that fridge that you've never been able to afford. See to it to purchase a stove so you can have hot food! See to it that you own a home so that you can eat your meal inside of it - like a king and queen!"
Pesach is the time for our freedom. A time to turn to each other and love the other truly as we would love ourselves - desiring for other the same freedom in life as we strive for ourselves.
