The symbols of Pesach, Matzah, and Maror, stand as vivid representations of our Jewish heritage, embodying our freedom and the bitter darkness of exile and subjugation, respectively. However, one might question why Matzah, the symbol of freedom, is always mentioned before Maror, the emblem of our trials and tribulations, both in text and consumption. Shouldn’t we be acknowledging the hardships before celebrating liberation, following the order of ‘it was evening, and it was morning’?

This intriguing observation brings to light another profound insight from the Apta Rav, the Ohev Yisrael, who posits that Maror – emblematic of our hardships and bitterness – is essentially the key to ‘mochin d’gadlus,’ our spiritual awakening and expansive consciousness. This statement might seem paradoxical. How can the bitterness of Maror possibly be at the root of our spiritual connection to God?

Moreover, we often find ourselves uttering ‘Zecher l’Yetziat Mitzrayim’ – ‘Remember the Exodus from Egypt.’ The phrasing implies remembering Egypt’s departure, not necessarily our exit from Egypt. Does this not seem peculiar?

The answer to these queries lies in the profound truth of creation. First, let’s address who was truly in exile. On the surface, it was the Jewish people, Klal Yisrael. Delving deeper, we recognize that it was God, the inner dimension of reality that was in exile. The deepest understanding, however, shows us that the entity in the profoundest exile is our perception of evil. We observe evil and brokenness, struggling to comprehend their part in the cosmic order, their place in God’s design. We fail to see that the evening, the descent, is a preparation for the morning, the ascent. Therefore, it is the ‘meitzarim,’ the constrictions, that are truly in exile.

Through the revelation of God, our consciousness expands, enabling us to see God’s presence in the world. We start to appreciate how every experience, including hardship and struggle, plays a critical role in the grand scheme. The liberation of consciousness is the true Exodus, the יציאת מצרים.

Now, the role of Maror becomes clearer. It is through the bitterness and darkness that we grow and evolve. These hardships shape us, forming a crucial part of our human experience, catalyzing our spiritual evolution and deepening our connection to God’s infinite light of love. When we can experience the bitterness of Maror and still say ‘this too is for the good,’ we reach the pinnacle of our freedom, free from the fear of the world because we are embraced in the love of Hashem.

However, reaching this understanding requires a certain level of spiritual maturity, of גדלות. We must already be in a state of freedom, with the sweetness of liberation in our mouths, to appreciate the necessity of our trials. Only then can we look back at the darkness with gratitude. This perspective represents the deepest liberation, the primary essence of ‘mochin d’gadlus.’

This understanding sheds light on why we mention and consume Matzah before Maror. We must first taste freedom to then delve into the bitterness of Maror, viewing it through the lens of liberation, through eyes filled with love.

This is reflected in the blessing we say ‘al achilat Maror’ – eating while rising above the bitterness of Maror, transcending to a new world of sweetness. The numerical value (gematria) of מרור + על, Mar

or plus ‘on,’ equals the Hebrew word for sweetness, מתוק, revealing the sweetness hidden within the bitterness when viewed from an elevated perspective.

So, on your spiritual journey, remember to carry the sweetness of freedom, the Matzah, into your experiences of Maror. Through this process, you’ll transform your hardships into powerful catalysts for growth, thereby experiencing the profound liberation that is our ultimate spiritual destiny.