The parable is told about 2 brothers who got into an argument and stopped talking to each another.
Years passed and the older brother was marrying off his son. The younger brother was torn. Part of him wanted to attend the wedding, but after all these years? The wedding day arrived, and he decided to be “strong” and not go. To make sure he wouldn’t change his mind, he got into pajamas early that afternoon and climbed into bed. Evening came, and suddenly he heard live music right outside his bedroom window. His brother had brought the whole wedding band to his house, with instructions to play a beautiful tune from their father’s Shabbos table.
The younger brother tried to block his ears, but to no avail. The music entered his ears and his heart. Overcome with emotion, he went outside to embrace his brother with tears in his eyes. His older brother was overjoyed, but looked at him and said with a smile, “I’m so happy you came to the wedding, but why’d you come in pajamas?”
The last day of Pesach, the 8th day, is known for the custom that the Baal Shem Tov established to end Passover with a Moshiach meal. If you’d like to join us for our Moshiach meal, reply to let us know before 2PM tomorrow (Tuesday 4/11/2023).
This parable about the two brothers is often used to describe us. We get stuck in the world of exile. We "stop talking" about the messianic era, when we will all have one desire to have a true meaningful relationship with G-d. Sometimes we block our ears and put on our pajamas. But on the last day of Pesach, we can hear the music. We hear the song that our redemption from Egypt was a long time ago, but we are ready to sing again in the messianic era. We are on our way to the final redemption.
The only question we need to ask ourselves is, will we come dressed properly or will we be in our pajamas?
The choice is ours!
Happy last days of Passover.
Hope to see you (schedule below),
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman