As we approach the final days of Passover, I hope your holiday has been filled with meaning, laughter, deep conversations, and moments of inspiration. Our hearts are still heavy as we recognize that this isn’t a full celebration of freedom, as we still have many brothers held in captivity at the hands of Hamas in Gaza this year. I hope that, very soon, we will be able to rejoice with them after they are granted their freedom. I also hope that your Seders were filled with wisdom and that they reminded us all of how rich and relevant our tradition is, especially when it’s shared around the table with those we love.
As we enter these last days, we shift our focus to one of the most dramatic and powerful moments in our history: the Splitting of the Red Sea. The Jewish people had just left Egypt and suddenly found themselves trapped with Pharaoh’s army behind them, the sea in front of them. It looked like a dead end.
Then, something incredible happened. Nachshon ben Aminadav, a young man from the tribe of Judah, stepped forward. While others hesitated, Nachshon walked into the water, deeper and deeper, until it reached his nose. At that moment, the sea split. Because one person had the courage to show his faith in the Almighty, Hashem split the sea for all of us.
This is a message we carry with us to this very day: when we feel like there’s no way forward, when we’re up against the wall, God will make a path, but we have to take that first step. We have to show our trust, our partnership with the Almighty.
But here’s the question: Why end Passover with this moment? We had 10 plagues, miracles, and the Exodus. Why is this the grand finale?
Years ago, I attended a Tony Robbins seminar with two close friends, Yitz Novak and Charlie Harary. Tony spoke for 12 hours straight. It was an intense, energizing, and eye-opening experience. Two things stuck with me.
First, so much of what he said about personal growth and building a meaningful life was all in the Ethics of our Fathers (Pirkei Avos) and in Rabbi Noach Weinberg’s legendary 48 Ways to Wisdom. (If you haven’t read the book by Aish.com editor Rabbi Nechemia Coopersmith and Shraga Simmons, I highly recommend it.) In essence, Jews founded the personal growth industry thousands of years ago!
The second takeaway hit me hard. Tony Robbins said:
“If you want to take the island, you need to burn the boats.”
In other words, if you want to truly succeed, you have to eliminate the option of backsliding. You have to commit. No turning around. Forward, march!
That’s what the Splitting of the Sea was all about. It wasn’t just an escape route, it was a point of no return. Once the sea closed behind them, Egypt was no longer an option. There was only forward from slavery to Sinai, from fear to faith, from Egypt to destiny.
This is the message of the last days of Passover: Burn the boats (and the Chometz). Move forward. Don’t look back.
To each of you, I bless you with the strength of Nachshon to take that step even when it feels scary. To trust in the Almighty even when the path isn’t clear. Once we break through, we must not turn around. We must not get stuck in the past but rather move confidently toward our future with joy, with faith, and with fire.
Join us and cast your vote for the future of the Jewish people at Aish.com/vote. Wishing you a meaningful, powerful, and joyful conclusion to Passover.
