From the Great Kedusha Comes Teshuva:
Similarly, the verse states (Vayikroh 23:15): “U’Sefartem lachem mimacharas haShabbos. (And you shall count for yourselves from the day after Shabbos).” The Avodas Yisroel explains the word “u’sfartem” to mean a “sapir” (diamond). Thus the pasuk is telling us to make ourselves illuminated by doing teshuva for all of our sins. We are told to do this “from the day after Shabbos”, which is a reference to the first day of Pesach. We are told to take the holiness of this day and allow it to leave an imprint of light upon us that will last for the coming weeks.
Geulah in the Merit of Tzedakah:
The Chida zt”l (Hagadah Shel Pesach Peh Achas) explains the words we recite in the Hagadah: “Anyone who is hungry should come and eat... We are currently here; next year in Yerushalaim” by quoting Mekubalim who say that when a person accepts to help the poor, the gate of mercy open for him in Heaven and he is provided with an abundance of blessing even before he gives his donation to the poor. Accordingly, we say that everyone in need is invited to our house. We then say that “we currently are here”, meaning that this is what we do while in golus. However, we accept to do this next year in Yerushalaim, and with this acceptance, the gates of mercy are opened for us. In the merit of our tzedakah, we will be free men next year, having experienced the ultimate redemption.
Emunah that Hashem Would Provide For Us in the Desert:
The pasuk states (Shemos 12:34): “The people picked up their dough when it was not yet leavened, their leftovers bound in their garments on their shoulders.” Sefer Zera Kodesh asks why it is necessary to say that the dough was on their shoulders. What difference does it make how they carried it?
He answers that the Torah is telling us that the food they took out of Egypt was not important to them at all. They threw it over their shoulders like one does to something unimportant because they fully trusted in Hashem to provide for them in the desert and didn’t really think it was important to watch over their food.
