In Egypt, the
Jewish people sunk to the lowest levels of immorality. After two hundred ten
years under Egyptian influence, they led a depraved lifestyle with all sorts of
hedonistic addictions. Just forty-nine days after their exodus, the Jewish
nation managed to pull itself from the Egyptian mire and reach the pinnacle of elevation.
It was ready to get the Torah.
The Jewish
people were able to transform so significantly, because they had forty-nine
days of sefirah, counting, before receiving the Torah. The word sefirah can
also mean a beautiful sapphire gem, and as they counted each day in
anticipation of the Torah, the Jews polished their natures until they shone
with refinement.
Anything
written in the Torah has a practical implication, and the journey from Egypt to
Sinai is a lesson on addiction recovery and personality refinement. Upon
leaving the shackles of addiction, we must completely stay away from that which
had enslaved us. This is why Pesach celebrates the abstention from all leaven;
the riddance of self-inflation and indulgence.
After a week
of sefirah and working on our personalities, we can slowly reintroduce chametz,
leaven, albeit in a healthy way; a positive self-esteem, courage to stand up
for your convictions, etc. We continue transforming our once evil traits one by
one until we reach Shavuot, a holiday where leaven is so refined that it is celebrated
by offering two leaven loaves on the holy alter.
