This week, we read our portion to prepare for Passover. It will occur on Saturday night, but there is much to do before then. For example, on Friday, we will burn all of the bread in our houses. We do this because this bread represents the evil inclination. It’s important that it is out of our domain when the night of Passover arrives.

Passover involves many rituals and ceremonies. We should take these seriously and follow them as closely and carefully as possible. Why? Because our action below will provoke a reaction above. That means if we do something holy, we will awaken holiness from above. On the other hand, if we do something to make ourselves impure, we will then awaken an impure system. Our motivation, as always, matters in determining what will come to us. It’s up to us whether we choose to connect to the good or to the bad.

During Passover, we must be especially conscious of the words that we say. Words always have the potential for great impact, but during this time, our speech is more powerful than ever. If you say the wrong words at the wrong time during Passover, this could have a detrimental effect on your relationships, on your family, on your business... You see the potential risk. Ideally, you would not talk at all before maror. If you do speak, it’s advisable to take great care with the sentiments that you express.

We all know that Passover starts with a prayer. We then drink four glasses, and these represent the four stages of redemption. We say a blessing for the wine. Each step should be taken in sequence. We follow the correct order of events because spirituality is all about evolution, work, and observance. In our own spiritual development, we cannot rush to the end right away. Each stage has its own value and significance. The same applies to Passover.

What is Passover all about? Really, it is about overcoming idol worshipping. All year, we are manipulated by dark forces. We know this to be true because we live full of doubts and uncertainty. This is a sign that we are in a war, a war that is impossible for us to win alone. Thankfully, the Creator gives us the gift of Passover. This is our opportunity to cancel out the negativity in our lives and ascend to a higher frequency and a greater level of consciousness. In other words, G-d helps win the war for us.

Returning to scripture, we know people worshipped a ram back in Egypt. On the night of Passover, a ram was barbecued and its bones were thrown out onto the street. This action had symbolic importance: it showed the weakness of the idol and the wrongness of idol-worshipping. Silver and gold tributes to the ram melted in accordance. Wooden tributes began to rot. This crushed the idol-worshipping in Egypt and brought it to an end. The Israelites had been slaves to the Pharaoh, and so they had perceived him as a G-d. On this night, all finally changed. They were freed from their faith in false idols.

We may not worship a ram, but idol-worshipping remains a threat in our own lives. The worst thing about idol-worshipping is that the more you believe in it, the more power it has over you. It can be very difficult to overcome this dynamic. First, you have to understand what your idol is. Maybe it is laziness. Maybe it is anger. Maybe it is your tendency to think small. Analyze your belief system to find out.

Do you believe you need money to be happy? This is a clear example of idol-worshipping! You are placing money at a higher level than G-d. You are a prisoner to the belief that something in our material world does greater work than the Divine. Passover is your opportunity to liberate yourself from this lie.

During Passover, you can receive light that you don’t have access to at any other time in the year. By following the rules of Passover, you can break with the worst negativity in your life. Really, what Passover offers is a taste of the Messiah’s arrival. What better gift from G-d is there?

It removes the Klipot that act as a barrier between ourselves and the light of the Divine. It takes away our problems and all the hatred—based on stupidity—that controls our lives. There’s a reason that a full moon will occur on the same night. What an amazing symbol for a vessel full of energy! We too can be that full moon, filled by the light of the Creator.

To achieve this, we must approach Passover with the right energy. We must arrive with happiness, ready to dance. We must leave the troubles of our week behind us. In disconnecting from our usual concerns, we can connect with the unique light of Passover. It’s a very special and significant event, and it should be treated as such.

May your Passover be kosher and joyous, the way G-d undoubtedly wants it to be.