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The First National Mitzvah
In Parshat Bo, the Torah introduces the first mitzvah given to the Jewish people as a nation—the Korban Pesach. This offering, prepared and eaten on the night before the Exodus, marks the beginning of the Jewish nation’s service to Hashem as a collective unit.
Though Brit Milah was also performed at that time, it was a prerequisite to eating the Korban Pesach. The Korban Pesach, however, stands as the first national mitzvah, setting the foundation for all future commandments.
The Mysterious Command to Eat in Haste
“Thus shall you eat it: with your belt fastened, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste—b’chipazon—for it is a Pesach offering to Hashem.”
Rashi explains the term Pesach—which literally means “to skip over”—in reference to Hashem’s actions on the night of the plague of the firstborn. Hashem “skipped” over the houses of the Jewish people, striking only the Egyptians.
However, Rashi adds something surprising:
“Just as Hashem skipped over the Jewish homes, you must perform all the services of the offering in the manner of skipping and jumping.”
This phrase is astonishing. Rashi is explaining that the mitzvah of the Korban Pesach should be performed with jumping—meaning dancing! But why is this essential?
The Power of Jumping and Dancing
Rebbe Nachman teaches that dancing has the power to mitigate harsh decrees. When a Jew jumps and dances in joy, he causes judgment to skip over him. Just as Hashem “skipped” over the Jewish homes in Egypt, so too, when we dance, we spiritually activate a similar skipping—allowing Hashem’s mercy to override judgment.
This mitzvah, given on the eve of redemption, sets the precedent for all future salvations:
Joy and dancing are essential tools for breaking free from exile and judgment.
The Jews in Egypt, before they left, had to jump both spiritually and physically—through faith, through sacrifice, and through joy. This lesson continues to hold true in every generation.
The Mitzvah of Movement: Dancing and Clapping in Avodat Hashem
Rebbe Nachman teaches that mitzvot should be done with joy, movement, and enthusiasm. Breslover Chassidim emphasize davening with singing, clapping, and excitement, as a way to awaken simcha. Rebbe Nachman was strongly against those who insisted on praying in a lifeless, silent manner, and he sought to restore the Baal Shem Tov’s way of serving Hashem with vibrancy and passion.
There are even stories of great Breslovers who would take five minutes just to say the bracha on a tallit, dancing under it out of sheer joy for the mitzvah.
This is not just an extra practice—it is deeply rooted in the Torah. The name Pesach, as Rashi explains, refers to Hashem skipping over the Jewish homes, and the Tzaddikim teach that just as Hashem “skipped,” we should also skip, jump, and dance in our service of Hashem. This movement brings divine protection and mitigates harsh decrees.
Mitzvot Done with Joy Create Spiritual Momentum
Rebbe Nachman, in Likutey Moharan Lesson 24, explains that mitzvot performed with simcha generate momentum—awakening higher levels of spiritual energy. This is hinted in Moshe Rabbeinu’s words to Pharaoh:
“With our youth and with our elders, we will go. With our sheep and our cattle, with our sons and our daughters, we will go, for it is a festival to Hashem.” (Shemot 10:9)
The ARI points out that these six categories—youth and elders, sons and daughters, sheep and cattle—represent all ten levels of divine energy, the ten sefirot. When a mitzvah is done with joy, it brings spiritual elevation to all levels of existence—from the most refined aspects of the soul to the animalistic desires within a person.
The Korban Pesach: A Model for All Mitzvot
Since Korban Pesach is the first mitzvah the Jewish people performed together, it serves as the prototype for all mitzvot.
This teaches that every mitzvah should be performed with joy, enthusiasm, and movement. Just as the Korban Pesach is done with jumping, all mitzvot should be accompanied by simcha—because this joy has the power to break barriers, elevate a person spiritually, and ultimately bring redemption.
A Fiery Joy: The Story of the Shamash of Berditchev
In the time of Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, a devoted shamash was known for his passion in preparing the shul for Shabbat. One week, while lighting the candles, he became so caught up in his excitement and joy for the mitzvah that he began dancing with his eyes closed—unaware that his jacket had caught fire. Tragically, he was consumed by the flames and passed away.
A great debate erupted in Heaven. Was his death considered an unfortunate accident in the course of a mitzvah, or was it akin to suicide, since he had not exercised caution? The ruling of his case would set a precedent for others who lost their lives while performing mitzvot with sincere enthusiasm.
A Heavenly Trial and a Tzaddik’s Intervention
Reb Lieber of Berditchev, the first rabbi of the city, had long since passed away, but he appeared in a dream to Rav Levi Yitzchak. He explained that he could help tip the scales in the shamash’s favor, but he needed assistance. His request was unusual:
“Go to my grave, dig a ditch next to it, fill it with water, and immerse in it. This will give us the merit to overturn the harsh decree in Heaven.”
Rav Levi Yitzchak and his students went to Reb Lieber’s kever. They dug the ditch and prepared the mikveh, but every time Rav Levi Yitzchak stepped in, the walls of the pit collapsed, filling it with mud. This happened three times, signaling a fierce kitrug—a heavenly prosecution—preventing the merit from taking effect.
Realizing the urgency of the situation, Rav Levi Yitzchak instructed his students to refill the pit while he was already inside, ensuring that he could immerse before the prosecution struck again. This time, the tikun was completed, and Reb Lieber appeared to him once more, confirming that the shamash’s soul had been saved.
Simcha in Mitzvot: A Protection Against Harsh Decrees
This incredible story highlights a crucial lesson: when a Jew performs a mitzvah with simcha, even if there are obstacles—even if there are risks—the joy itself carries immense spiritual power. The Torah commands that the Korban Pesach be eaten derech kvitzah ve’dilug—with jumping and joy—because this enthusiasm in serving Hashem brings divine protection and salvation.
Rebbe Nachman teaches that simcha is the key to all mitzvot. By performing them with movement, energy, and joy, we awaken spiritual momentum that brings us closer to Hashem. This applies not just to Pesach, but to every mitzvah we perform.
May we always approach mitzvot with boundless joy, and in doing so, merit divine favor and ultimate redemption.
This article also appears on the BRI breslov.org website: https://breslov.org/the-power-of-dancing/
For a video presentation of this article: https://youtu.be/jUaQ7XXIdcg
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Shabbat Shalom!
Meir Elkabas
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