Little things mean a lot

“They baked the dough… Into cakes of matzah, for had not leavened.”

What is the difference between hametz and matzah? The great mystic and kabbalist from Safed, Rabbi Isaac Luria, known as HaAri HaKadosh (1534-1572), explains that hametz rises, which signifies the haughtiness, while matzah, does not rise, implying humility.

When we look at the two Hebrew words hametz and matzah, one notices they contained two of the same letters mem, מ, and tzadi, צ . The words differ only in that hametz contains a het, ח and matzah a hey ה.

The difference between the letter a het, ח and the letter hey ה, is but a minuscule space, I tiny gap.

חמצ

                                                                                        מצה

This tiny gap, we are taught, is enough to change matzah, a life-giving mitzvah, into hametz, a symbol of negativity and evil.

Only a fine line separates true humility, which creates closeness to God, from false modesty, which alienates Him.

Reb Shlomo Carlebach explained on this lesson of contrasting hametz and matzah. Reb Shlomo would say that often the smallest things can make the biggest difference-both for good and bad.

“How many marriages are destroyed because of one small thing? The difference between being a good father or good mother may be just one small thing. In our personal lives, one small change can make a world of difference.

“What keeps us from becoming free is sometimes a very small thing. Hametz is forbidden even in the smallest amounts because sometimes one from can destroy your life. As Passover comes, were getting rid of all those tiny crumbs. Between redemption and slavery is something so tiny. Real redemption comes when we walk around with the candle and find this tiny trait that is holding us back from becoming who we really want to be.”

(From A Night That Unites Haggadah, page 166-167)

At the Seder table small things do make a big difference. Who helps the chief and who helps to clean up? Who sets the table? Who leads the Seder by preparing in advance? Who volunteers when help is needed? Who asks good questions? Who answers those good questions? Who shows appreciation by saying a real and meaningful thank you? By answering those questions positively we can accentuate our positive traits and become the person we truly want to be.