Dvar Torah for Shvi'i shel Pesach

The seventh day of Pesach is the anniversary of kriat Yam Suf (the splitting of the Red Sea). In the Omer-Count, it is the sixth day, referred to kabbalistically as Yesod she'b'Chesed (Foundation within Kindness). (Yesod/Foundation is the sefirah relating to sexuality.)

To review: The Jews had left Egypt proper less than a week before, after 210 years in exile, almost 90 of them in miserable slavery. They headed east towards the Promised Land and came to the Sea. Pharaoh, having regretted his decision to let God's people go, set off in hot pursuit, with an army of millions. The Jews found themselves in a veritable valley of death - the sea in front of them, desert to their right and left and Pharaoh's army behind. Hashem heard their cries and split the Sea. The Jews passed through the Sea and were saved. Afterwards they sang the Song of the Sea.

In a number of places our Sages tell us that this miraculous event was in the merit of Yosef HaTzadik, specifically in the merit of his having overcome the temptation of being seduced by his employer's wife. This single act of kedushah (holiness) performed more than 200 years before the Jews left Egypt literally saved an entire nation. From here we can understand that our entire existence as people and as a people is predicated on our holiness. It is undeniable that this is only tested and earned in the face of the strongest and most prevalent desire. But if we are to pass through the raging sea with its non-stop waves we have no choice. And apparently we need a miracle to do so. But miracles do happen. Nobody knows that better than we. We need to know at least one other thing.

Rabbi Nachman relates kriat Yam Suf to song. In Rabbi Nachman's Wisdom #141 which discusses the Tikun HaKlali (All-Inclusive Remedy) the Rebbe points out that even though it's impossible to change nature permanently for all mankind, the course of nature can be changed worldwide for a short while as it was for kriat Yam Suf. The Tikun HaKlali consists of ten Psalms (16, 32, 41, 42, 59, 77, 90, 105, 137, 150) which are paradigms for the ten types of song which constitute the entire book of Psalms.

In Rabbi Nachman's Stories ("The Seven Beggars," the Sixth Day, the Handless Beggar) the Rebbe tells of the princess who is pursued by the evil villain who had kidnapped her. She runs away and escapes to a castle of water which has ten walls. The story was told shortly before Pesach and Reb Noson relates it to kriat Yam Suf (Likutey Halakhot, Tolaim 4:4). In many places in his works Rebbe Nachman stresses that song is critical for being happy and that being happy is the best offense (and defense) against temptation.

You find it hard to be happy? You're not alone. But remember what we sang at the seder:

• If He would have brought us out of Egypt, but not judged the Egyptians - dayeinu! (it would have been enough for us)! ...
• If He would have split the sea, but not taken us through it on dry land - dayeinu!
• If He would have taken us through it on dry land... dayeinu!

agutn yom tov!
chag sameach!