The Children (Part I) - Preparing for Pesach

00:00 As we approach the month of Nisan, which begins on Rishchedish Nisan this upcoming Shabbos, we will discuss a series on the topic of Veheshev Levoves Albonim. It was Erev Rishchedish Nisan Tavshin Mem 1980 when the Rebbe announced a campaign to, quote, return the hearts of fathers through children, unquote, which is a pasik, a verse in the prophet of Malachi as a preparation for the geula. At the fabrengen, the Rebbe introduced it as follows. I would like to introduce a radical idea. Miftzah Pesach and the other miftzoyim as well should be carried out in a fashion that will add new energy and life. We must begin with the children. We must approach children and tell them that the Pesach holiday is approaching and that there are many special customs and laws to fulfill. Therefore, they should tell their parents that they want to help prepare for Pesach and make this seder the nicest and most kosher that they ever had. In order to interest the children in such a campaign, it is proper that a contest be arranged and that prizes be given out. The child should send in a card saying that he or she has added something to the celebration of Pesach, bringing a new custom or a new guest to the seder, and then he will receive a prize. It is self-understood that there should be differences from class to class. A child of kindergarten age cannot achieve what an older child can achieve. However, every child can add to the celebration of

02:11 the Yom Tov, increasing the kasrus, joy, etc. The child must take a leading role in all matters, beginning with the sale of chametz and the search with a wooden spoon for chametz, and including all other preparations. Every preparation should be carried out with the children. The participation of the child is intrinsically connected with the celebration of Pesach. Many of the customs of the Pesach seder were instituted for the purpose of attracting the interest of young children. Furthermore, the prophet Yechezkel compares the exodus to the birth of a child. Hence, regardless of the fact that until now no such effort has been made, it is essential to use these next two weeks to the utmost. Particularly educators, counselors, youth leaders, etc. should make great efforts to motivate the children. If so, the campaign will be successful, for if children are inspired, there is no limit to what they can accomplish. Therefore, it is essential to approach Jewish children and speak to them with words that come from the heart. There are many different ways to approach this program. Each person should develop it as he sees fit. What is most important is that the work gets done. Tonight or tomorrow morning, all teachers, educators, and those who can help should accept the responsibility to work with the children, understanding that their work will influence their entire family. In order to stress the need for action, I am asking everyone to submit a report of what they have done before Pesach. The children must show respect for

04:12 the parents, but they must also tell them that they heard of a new radical idea. They want to bring a kosher Pesach and a happy Pesach by taking the leader's role in all the Pesach preparations. Then all the preparations will be carried out with the simple faith a child possesses. The child will eagerly take care of selling the chametz and of providing the spoon for the search. A child does not know the difference between a custom, a rabbinic ordinance, and a Torah law. He views them as equal expressions of Hashem's will. His simple faith and love relates to the ultimate simplicity of Hashem's essence. Just as the mitzvah, mitzvah of Neshek Shabbos candles, the campaign to have young girls light candles added light and blessing to Jewish homes. Similarly, all campaigns bringing out the light of Torah, especially the holiday of Pesach, will have a good effect. There are many aspects of the Pesach Seder that were instituted so that children would not fall asleep at the Seder. At present, it is necessary for the children to make sure that their parents do not sleep through the Pesach Yom Tov. Then the prophecy of Malachi, quote, he will return the hearts of fathers to through their children, unquote, will be fulfilled. The efforts of the children will influence the parents toward more involvement in Torah and mitzvahs. In case of the Shabbos candles, the efforts of the children influenced entire households to greater Torah observance. For example, when one young girl began lighting Shabbos candles,

06:16 her mother shortly followed her example. Slowly but surely, the entire house was transformed into a kosher house. First, the parents began to ask themselves how they could work while the candles burnt. Then they began eating kosher food. After all, how could they eat treif while the candles were burning? And with a short while, they became totally observant. A similar effect will surely come about from this Pesach campaign. In fact, the results will probably be even more successful because of the festive nature of the Pesach holiday. Furthermore, even those Yidden who did not observe any other aspects of Torah mitzvahs are affected by the observance of Pesach. The Pesach miracle involved taking, quote, one nation from the midst of another, unquote. In some cases, there wasn't any difference between a Yid and a Mitzri. Nevertheless, Hashem redeemed us. Therefore, those Yidden in a similar situation today feel a connection to the Pesach holiday. The Jewish children will respond, we will approach a Jewish child in kindergarten and tell him about a fantastic event. A people were enslaved by a superpower for hundreds of years. Then a Yid named Moshe Rabbeinu came and redeemed them. The child may have heard about Moshe and he may have studied the entire story in the Chumash, but he did not know it was related to him. When he is told so, with feeling, he will become excited. He will run home and tell his parents how the Yidden were a minority and were surrounded by the Mitzriim. How Hashem made

08:17 Moshe a messenger and told him to go to Pharaoh instead of this. How Moshe went to the capital and made a protest declaring, send out my people and let them serve me. And afterwards, when the child knows that in a few days there will be a seder and he will have to ask the four questions, that the father will answer them and that he will drink the four cups of wine, surely such a campaign will have a positive effect on tens of thousands of Jewish homes. The above should be publicized and spread. Furthermore, everyone should take part in this campaign. No one is excluded. Tonight, plans should start to be made. Thus, we will bring all four sons to the seder table and even convince the fifth son, the son who does not want to participate, to come to the seder. This will bring a kosher and a happy Pesach and hasten the fulfillment of the prophecy. As in the days of your exodus from Egypt, I will show you wonders. We will, im yirtzeh Hashem, continue in the next installment.