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Rabbanit Dr. Michal Tikochinsky

What Are We Searching For?

“And he searched; starting with the eldest “Rav Chisda said: we learn finding clean, with no ‘foreign goblet’ among his
and ending with the youngest, and the [chametz] from finding [the goblet] … possessions.
goblet was found in Benjamin’s sack.” and searching from candles [searching
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(Genesis 44:12) Jerusalem with candles] , and candles Through his associations, Rav Chisda
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from candle [candle as soul of man] .” 3 clarifies the search for chametz as an
he search for the goblet, internal cleansing, while also helping us
ultimately found in Binyamin’s Rav Chisda creates a chain from the idea understand the search for the goblet.
T sack, was staged. The person of searching for chametz by candlelight
who hid it, the searcher and the finder based on hermeneutic principles of Yosef is reminding the brothers of what
are one and the same. In this case, the verbal analogy and juxtaposition in the they should be thinking about, i.e. how
aim of the search was to intentionally verses he quotes. they became trapped in the impurities
incriminate Binyamin. of Egypt, and hinting that change for
At first glance, Rav Chisda’s explanation good is not found in the sheaves they
The Tanach also recognizes other types seems quite convoluted. What is the have in their sacks but in adjusting their
of searches. Lavan’s search for his lost connection between the prohibition of intentions for good. If they would just
idols is a search for something lacking. searching and not finding leaven and put their day-to-day food crisis aside,
Saul searches for asses and finds the searching for the goblet and finding it in they could then deal with the family
monarchy. Binyamin’s sack? crisis of which they were the cause.
From that story it is clear that sometimes It seems he connected the two because Searching is always just the beginning,
the searcher is open to change regarding he wanted to explain the concept of and we often think we are searching for
the identity of the object or the thing he searching for chametz in somewhat one thing when in fact we are searching
is searching for. In reality, the searcher unusual fashion. We normally think we for something else entirely. The search
doesn't really know what he’s looking for. are looking for actual, tangible chametz, is supposed to lead to a search and that
so that we can burn it. However, it search to another search.
Today, searching is what we do on appears that the search for chametz is not
Google. This involves typing in just to confirm we have no chametz, but And at the end of the journey, we are
keywords and attempting to fish out the it has another aim, rather like the search supposed to reach the starting point
entry we’re looking for from the range for the goblet in Binyamin’s sack. that every searcher is looking for. This
of results. The more precise the search, is where the light is found, sparkling and
the better the results. In this case we And we can learn about that search from shining from the inside out.
sometimes learn what we’re searching the candles with which G-d “will search
for from the search itself. Jerusalem” (Tzephania 1:12). G-d is 1 Tzephania 1:12.
searching for the crimes of Jerusalem,
The search in our parasha serves as a and He examines them by the light of 2 Proverbs 20:27.
paradigm for a completely different the candles. And the candle is the soul 3 Pesachim 7b.
type of search. The Mishna in Pesachim of man (Proverbs 20:27). There, in the
opens with the obligation to search for depths of the soul, lies the candle of
chametz by the light of a candle on the G-d – a light of purity and cleanliness. Rabbanit Dr. Michal Tikochinsky
night of the 14th of Nissan. The Gemara For a person to find this light he must be is a lawyer and Head of the Herzog
gives a reason why we must use candles: Academic College's Batei Midrash

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