Relating the Story of the Exodus

Relating the Story of the Exodus

Rav Yitzchak Levi

"Even if we are all knowledgable, we are all wise, we all know the Torah, it is incumbant upon us to tell about the exodus from Egypt. Whoever tells more about Yetziat Mitzrayim -- is praiseworthy!" At first glance, what is the point of mentioning, "Even if we are all knowledgable?" Where do we find that knowledge, wisdom, and knowing the Torah exempt one from mitzvot? Similarly, "The more one tells," etc. What is there to tell so much, to the extent that the Tannaim sat in Bnei Brak and discussed Yetziat Mitzrayim the entire night -- and even this did not suffice!

Some understand that the intention of this mitzvah is to delve in Torah about the topic of Yetziat Mitzrayim, answering questions and explaining the Haggadah, etc. It seems, though, that the implication of the Rambam is not so. He writes: "Whoever deals at length with the events that occurred and that were -- is praiseworthy." The focus seems to be on the events of Yetziat Mitzrayim, the story itself.

The Achronim ask a well known question. How is the Seder night different than all other nights regarding this mitzvah? Every night there is a mitzvah to mention Yetziat Mitzrayim, as Chazal teach: "All the days of your life" -- to include the nights. Many answers are given to this question:

On the Seder night one is required to tell about Yetziat Mitzrayim verbally -- "Tell your children," while for "remembering" it is sufficient to contemplate in the mind. (Pri Megadim)

On the Seder night one must expand upon the story and a mere mention is not enough. (Netivot Hamishpat in "Ma'aseh Nisim")

On the Seder night the story must be in a question and answer format. (Minchat Chinuch)

On the Seder night he begins with disgrace and ends with praise; on the Seder night one must mention Pesach, matzah and maror and what they are for, and this is part of the mitzvah of Haggadah. (Chiddushei R. Chaim on the Shas)

It seems that all of these answers have a single common denominator: On the Seder night, through the story of Yetziat Mitzrayim, we are required to create the experience as if we actually left Egypt. All of the details that we mentioned -- telling verbally, expanding upon the story, question and answer format, mentioning Pesach, matzah and maror and placing them before us at the time of relating, as well as reclining, four cups -- are intended to arouse the feeling as if we are leaving Egypt.

"In each and every generation a person is obligated to view himself as if he left Egypt." The purpose of mentioning Yetziat Mitzrayim every night is so that we should know mentally; telling on the Seder night is so that we will feel emotionally. If it were an issue of mental awareness and knowledge, there would have been room to take into consideration the knowledge of the Sages. However, this is an experiential requirement which is demanded also of the Sages, and for this experiential requirement there is no limit. The aspiration is that we reach a maximum level of emotional identification with those who left Egypt, and whoever tells more is praiseworthy, and certainly one night will not suffice for this.

Why is all this necessary? Yetziat Mitzrayim created in the heart of the nation, which left from a terrible distress, a wonderful sense of unity -- one nation that turns towards one common goal. The pinnacle of this feeeling is Matan Torah: "Israel camped there" -- As one person, with one heart. Mental awareness of the need for the unity of Israel in its joint mission does not necessarily yield proper results in practice. Only the feeling in the heart, and an inner sense of unity and common nationality can ensure the success of our nation. Mental awareness does not guarantee anything, as anyone can observe from our own lives.

This wonderful feeling that arose in Yetziat Mitzrayim, the Torah seeks to arouse inside our hearts each and every year through the experiences of the Seder night -- so that we should not forget in our hears our common source and destiny.

 

 

 

קוד השיעור: 4040

סרוק כדי להעלות את השיעור באתר:

Pesach Haggadah

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הרב יוסף אילוז
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ר' אהוד שלמה פיקסלר
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הרב נחמן ארנרייך
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הרב מרדכי גרינברג <br> נשיא הישיבה
הרב מרדכי גרינברג
נשיא הישיבה
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הרב אפרים רובינשטיין
הרב אפרים רובינשטיין
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הרב מרדכי גרינברג <br> נשיא הישיבה
הרב מרדכי גרינברג
נשיא הישיבה
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הרב ישי בוכריס
הרב ישי בוכריס
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הרב בן-ציון אלגזי
הרב בן-ציון אלגזי
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הרב מרדכי גרינברג <br> נשיא הישיבה
הרב מרדכי גרינברג
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הרב ציון לוז
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הרב אברהם ריבלין, המשגיח הרוחני לשעבר
הרב אברהם ריבלין, המשגיח הרוחני לשעבר
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