Thank you
In the words of the Rebbe:
– We are in the midst of the Pesach festival, “the Season of our Freedom,” a time when every single Jew experiences freedom. The exodus from Egypt (through which the Jews were granted their freedom) is not merely a historical event, something which happened to our ancestors, but rather an exodus and an experience of freedom which every Jew actually lives.
Thus, the Haggadah tells us:
“In each and every generation, (and more particularly, every single day,) a person is obligated to see himself as if he left Egypt”
He, himself, together with his parents, grandparents, children, and grandchildren, leaves Egypt on this very night. Furthermore, the reliving of the exodus is not only confined to speech, but is expressed in deed, in the drinking of the four cups of wine and the eating of matzah.
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… The concept that the entire Jewish people, and in particular, Jewish children are free men is particularly emphasized on a festival when we are forbidden to work with the intent of earning our livelihood and therefore, our needs are taken care of from what was prepared previously. There is a special emphasis on this during Pesach when there are far many more expenses than on other festivals. The Jews, nevertheless, do not have to worry about meeting these expenses. From “His full, open, holy, and generous hand,” G‑d grants them food, clothing, and all their other needs in a manner which is appropriate to the festival of freedom.
… In regard to the above, there is a special emphasis in connection with children, for it is natural to give to children generously, without waiting for them to ask. Furthermore, even after a child has been given his needs, it is natural to look and see if he needs more. And also, what is given to a child is given happily, with good feeling…
The freedom granted the Jewish people is intended as one of the preparatory steps for the giving of the Torah as it is written:
“When you take the people out of Egypt, you will serve G‑d on this mountain.”
This is a lesson for every person and particularly for children, to realize that the freedom they are granted is intended to prepare them to receive the Torah, to allow them to study in a calm and receptive frame of mind.
This allows the Torah to make a deeper impression upon them and for it to be engraved within their thinking processes as the letters of the Ten Commandments were engraved upon the tablets.
When a child receives the Torah in this fashion, it makes a powerful impression on his parents and motivates them to have all the concepts included in the Ten Commandments, i.e., the entire Torah, engraved upon the child’s heart. This in turn will cause these matters to become engraved more deeply in the hearts of the child’s parents, grandparents, and teachers.
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… The impression from Pesach remains throughout the entire year, as reflected in our mention of the exodus from Egypt twice each day. This keeps a child — and an adult — constantly aware that G‑d redeemed him from Egypt and granted him freedom. And that He did this with the purpose that one should “serve G‑d on this mountain,” and appreciate his identity as G‑d’s servant.
The fulfillment of the intent for which G‑d grants us our freedom and grants us our needs, that is our acceptance of our role as G‑d’s servants, amplifies the extent of the blessings He will grant us. Even an earthly king gives his servants all that they need — and even things that they do not need — in a generous manner. Surely this applies in regard to the King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.
May He grant us the ultimate freedom and happiness, the redemption. And we will proceed from the exile to Eretz Yisrael, to Jerusalem, and to the Beis HaMikdash with “eternal joy.” And that joy will continue to increase and shine forth…
From the Rebbe’s talk to the kids of “Tzivos Hashem”, the 18th of Nissan, 5751 (1991). Free translation.
