22 Mar MATZAH – THE FOOD OF EMUNAH

The Torah mentions
several times that the
purpose of all the miracles connected with
Yetziat Mitzrayim was
to demonstrate the existence of Hashem, his power, and all
the principles of our faith to the Jewish
people. Pesach was designated as the
Yom Tov of Emunah and the matzah
is called, “the food of emunah”, by the
Zohar. Shavuot is the Yom Tov of receiving the Torah.
The “Kedushat Levi” points out
the contrast between the two Yomim Tovim: 1. On Pesach we may
not even possess any chametz, as opposed to Shavuot which is the one and
only time in the year that a korban isbrought from chametz, The Talmud c
onsiders the “shtei halechem”brought
on Shavuot as a more elegant korban
because of the fact that it consists of
chametz. 2. The “minchat haomer”
brought on Pesach is most unusual as
it consists of barley grain, as opposed
to almost all other minachot, including
the “shtei halechem”, which all come
from wheat. Barley is usually used to
feed the animals, as opposed to wheat,
which is traditionally used for human
consumption.
It may well be that these contrasts
are due to the differences between
the themes of the two Yomim Tovim.
Pesach represents emunah, and regarding our understanding of Hashem we
must all have the attitude that, “if I really understood Him, I would be Him”
(Kuzari). None of us can really understand any aspect of Elokut. Our understanding is compared to that of the
animals (see Tehillim 73:22, and 42:2;
Tanya Chapter 18). The “omer” korban on Pesach must consist of maachal
beheima to emphasize this idea. No
chametz is permitted at all since matzah represents elementary simplicity,
while chametz represents sophistication. On Shavuot when we celebrate
Torah learning the “shtei halechem”
korban should be maachal adam representing the idea that we were commanded to use our human intelligence
to the best of our ability to delve into
the study of the Torah. That korban
must be made into chametz, representing the sophistication one should attain
in Torah learning.
But, sophistication is not necessarily a trait that we want to develop in
regards to emunah. The Chasid Yavetz
(who was among the Jews who were
expelled from Spain in 1492) wrote
that he noticed the percentage of Jews
who converted to Christianity to save
their lives was much higher among
those who were philosophers than
among the peshutei haamwho adhered
to an emunah peshutah.
If one delves deeply into Torah
learning his faith will neither remain
simplistic nor primitive. Our tradition
teaches us that the Torah is a description of Elokut. (This is the meaning of
the concept of “mashal hakadmoni”
See Rashi on Shemot 21:13.) Moshe
Rabbeinu was the only prophet to
whom the Torah was revealed, and
this is referred to by the Torah as his,
“having had a glimpse of the image of
Hashem.” (Bamidbar 12:8). The best
way to develop a love of Hashem is by
learning His Torah. (See Rashi on Devarim 6:6). By gaining Torah knowledge and developing a sophisticated
approach to Torah, which is a description of Elokut, we come to understand
Him better and our emunah becomes
enhanced.