פֶּסַח וְחֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן

The days of the month of Nisan are days of repentance — just as the days of the month of Tishrei. That is: just as during Tishrei — on the days of Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkos, and Shemini Atzeres — one must engage in repentance and matters of fear of G-d and Torah observance more than throughout the rest of the year, so too in Nisan one must engage in repentance and fear of G-d and Torah observance more than during the rest of the year.

Nisan is in the aspect of rectification of the bris. That is: this month is more suited for the rectification of the bris than any other time of the year — when one engages in the counsels that are effective for the rectification of the bris, as explained in the books of our Rebbe, of blessed memory. For the trait of joy is very beneficial for the rectification of the bris — that is, not to allow sadness and worries to rule over the mind and heart, but to strengthen oneself in the trait of joy. Both in material expanses — as our Rebbe interprets the verse : "In my distress You have expanded me" — and spiritually one must strengthen oneself in joy through the good points one finds within oneself, as explained in Likutay MoHaRaN in the Torah "Azamra le'Elokai be'odi". And through the proper trait of joy one draws the holiness of the month of Nisan and its joy into the entire year — so that throughout the entire year one can properly strengthen oneself in joy. And through this one is saved from a nocturnal emission, G-d have mercy, and merits rectification of the bris.

The recitation of the Haggadah on the Seder night of Pesach is effective for rectification of the bris . Therefore one must recite the Haggadah with a strong voice and with great arousal. For reciting the Haggadah with a strong voice arouses the knowledge — and through this one merits the revelation of knowledge, that is, to understand through this knowledge what one truly needs to understand. And when one merits genuine knowledge — this is the essence of the redemption. For the Egyptian exile was caused by the blemish of the bris, and through the blemish of the bris the knowledge is blemished, G-d have mercy. But through recounting the miracles and wonders of the Exodus from Egypt, one merits rectification of the bris, rectification of knowledge — and this is the essence of the redemption. And through drinking the commandment of the Four Cups of wine at Pesach, one also merits rectification of knowledge and rectification of the bris. From this section we can learn how much one must be careful about every holy custom from among the customs described in the Shulchan Aruch in the conduct of the Pesach Seder. For through every single custom practiced on the Seder night one merits a specific rectification — and especially rectification of the bris, which is the totality of all rectifications, as explained in Likutay MoHaRaN Part I, §29.

During the days of Pesach one must pray with a mighty and strong voice — for prayer in a cry is effective for rectification of the bris. Just as the recitation of the Haggadah in a great voice is effective for rectification of the bris, as described above — so too is prayer in a cry, as explained in Likutay Halachos.