The Secret of Pidyon HaBen: Restoring the Birthright and Rectifying the Sin of Adam HaRishon

Class No. 220 | Cassette 220 Tuesday, Parashas Toldos, 30 Cheshvan 5760 - Pidyon HaBen (Redemption of the Firstborn) in Har Nof, Jerusalem Thursday, Parashas Toldos, Eve of 3 Kislev 5760 - Sheva Brachos in Shaarei Simcha Hall, Jerusalem

The mitzvah of Pidyon HaBen is not merely a ceremony, but a profound spiritual action that nullifies harsh judgments and restores the world order that was disrupted by the sin of Adam HaRishon (the First Man). By giving the redemption money to the true tzaddik, we rectify the blemish of arrogance and return the birthright to the Jewish people.

Reb Noson of Breslov teaches that through the mitzvah of Pidyon HaBen, all the harsh judgments in the world are nullified. All situations that are "out of order," all the suffering and judgments, come upon a person because of arrogance. Therefore, the redemption money is given to the true tzaddik, who has not a single drop of arrogance and has attained perfect humility.

The tzaddik who has attained perfect humility can redeem us from all suffering, since all suffering comes only because we have thoughts of arrogance. We give the money to the true sages of the generation, because money is called "damim" (which also means blood), and from it comes all the blood and harsh judgments. Money originates from the left side, from the supernal severities (Gevuros), and by giving it to the tzaddik, we elevate it to its root, to the place where everything is pure loving-kindness (Chasadim).

Regarding this it is said: "And these are the generations of Yitzchak, the son of Avraham; Avraham fathered Yitzchak." The Torah emphasizes this twice, because Yitzchak was entirely loving-kindness. While severities are necessary, these are the supernal root severities, where "everything is the right side" — everything is loving-kindness and the right side.

To perform a true redemption, one must find such a tzaddik who will draw down Chochmah, Binah, and Daas (Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge) to the child. First of all, we need Chabad (Chochmah, Binah, Daas), and after attaining intellect and emunah (faith), one can arrive at pure, simple faith. The redeeming Kohen is called the tzaddik of the generation, and about him the Sages expounded: "If the Rav is like an angel of the Lord of Hosts, they should seek Torah from his mouth." When the money is given to the true sage and tzaddik, everything falls into proper order and all the harsh judgments in the world are nullified.

The Sin of Adam HaRishon and the Disruption of the World Order

Why is there a need to restore the world to "order"? Because the moment Adam HaRishon sinned, all the pathways and orders in the world became confused. A settled area became a desert, and a desert became a settled area. Because of the sin of Adam HaRishon, Kayin was born before Hevel, Yishmael was born before Yitzchak, and Esav was born before Yaakov.

If not for the sin, Hevel and Yaakov would have been born first. The sin caused the birthright and the prominence to temporarily pass to the nations of the world, to Esav and Yishmael. Parashas Toldos is the Torah portion of the birthright, and its entire essence is the return of the birthright to Yaakov. Through the mitzvah of Pidyon HaBen, we redeem the firstborn and restore the true order to its rightful place.

Rectifying the Sin and Returning the Birthright to Israel

The holy Arizal explains that before the sin, Chavah was called "Chayah." Following the sin, the birthright was blemished and her name was changed to Chavah. Avraham and Sarah rectified the sin of Adam and Chavah, and therefore the angels who came to bring the tidings to Sarah said: "At this time next year (chayah), and Sarah will have a son." The angels informed her that she had now returned to the spiritual level of "Chayah" from before the sin. The Baal HaTurim says that the phrase "Sarah was a hundred years" (Sarah me'ah shanah) forms the acronym Shemesh (sun), because she shone like the sun after rectifying the sin of Chavah.

To restore the birthright, the holy Patriarchs had to rectify the blemishes of Adam HaRishon. Avraham rectified the blemish of idolatry when he smashed the idols, Yitzchak rectified the blemish of bloodshed at the Akeidah (Binding of Yitzchak) when he became "gathered ashes upon the altar," and Yaakov rectified the blemish of sexual immorality.

Yaakov Avinu exerted himself with tremendous effort, and only at the age of 63 did he merit to receive the birthright back. He completed the Divine Name of SaG (which has the numerical value of 63), studied for 14 consecutive years without sleep, and thereby rectified the sin of Adam HaRishon. Then the true order returned to the world, the order of "My son, My firstborn, Israel." This is also the secret of the festival of Chanukah, when it became clear that the Jewish people are the true firstborn, and the dominion returns to them from the hands of Esav and Greece.

Part 1 of 4 — Class No. 220

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