Points to Ponder on the Haggadah
Two weeks ago, while I was leading a discussion on the Haggadah, Jim Wassertsrom mentioned that he wished he had a list of questions available for him during the Passover Seder. As the words came out of his mouth I thought to myself, that is brilliant (I also wished that I thought of it). I shared this idea with the other Kollel Rabbis and they all expressed interest in contributing to this project.
Thus the Kollel Rabbis present to you seven points to ponder (with hints) to enhance your Seder experience.
1. L’Chaim, we are free
Pesach is the holiday of freedom, when we reflect and appreciate our redemption from Egypt. But how can we celebrate and drink to redemption while the Jewish people are currently still in exile?
Hint: What is the definition of freedom?
2. Last minute invitation
We begin the Seder. We make the special Holiday Kiddush and Shehechianu Blessings. Then we wash our hands for the eating of the karpas. We break the middle Matzah, and are now ready to begin the Maggid, the fifth section of the Seder. But before we begin to recount the story of Pesach we proclaim, “All who are hungry come and eat. All who are needy come and partake of the Passover meal”. If you received such an invitation, would you attend? Is it not a bit late to begin inviting the hungry and needy (after we have already recited kiddush). Why at the Pesach Seder do we extend the quintessential belated invitation?
Hint: There are a number of approaches to answer this question. Two ideas: 1) What section of the Passover Seder does this invitation directly precede? 2) Are we the real Masters of this meal, or are we guests, in a sense, even at our own Seder?
3. Problem child
Two weeks ago, while I was leading a discussion on the Haggadah, Jim Wassertsrom mentioned that he wished he had a list of questions available for him during the Passover Seder. As the words came out of his mouth I thought to myself, that is brilliant (I also wished that I thought of it). I shared this idea with the other Kollel Rabbis and they all expressed interest in contributing to this project.
Thus the Kollel Rabbis present to you seven points to ponder (with hints) to enhance your Seder experience.
1. L’Chaim, we are free
Pesach is the holiday of freedom, when we reflect and appreciate our redemption from Egypt. But how can we celebrate and drink to redemption while the Jewish people are currently still in exile?
Hint: What is the definition of freedom?
2. Last minute invitation
We begin the Seder. We make the special Holiday Kiddush and Shehechianu Blessings. Then we wash our hands for the eating of the karpas. We break the middle Matzah, and are now ready to begin the Maggid, the fifth section of the Seder. But before we begin to recount the story of Pesach we proclaim, “All who are hungry come and eat. All who are needy come and partake of the Passover meal”. If you received such an invitation, would you attend? Is it not a bit late to begin inviting the hungry and needy (after we have already recited kiddush). Why at the Pesach Seder do we extend the quintessential belated invitation?
Hint: There are a number of approaches to answer this question. Two ideas: 1) What section of the Passover Seder does this invitation directly precede? 2) Are we the real Masters of this meal, or are we guests, in a sense, even at our own Seder?
3. Problem child
Which of the four sons is regarded as the most problematic?
Hint: Is a bad opinion worse than no opinion?
4. Who is the real villan?
The objective of the Seder is to recount our suffering in Egypt and how G-d miraculously set us free. One would think, then, that the Haggadah would focus exclusively on our persecution at the hands of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Oddly enough, though, the Haggadah states: “Go learn what Laban the Aramean attempted to do to our father Jacob -- Pharaoh wanted to kill only the boys, but Laban wanted to uproot the whole Jewish nation.” Doesn't this undercut the goal of the evening? It almost makes it sound as if Pharaoh was nothing compared to Laban! Why does the Haggadah seem to minimize Pharaoh's evil by emphasizing that Laban was even worse?
Hint: How did Laban seek to “uproot” the Jewish people? Was he trying to destroy us physically or spiritually?
5. Name that theme!
“Rabbi Yehuda combined the initials (of the Plagues) into acronyms: “De.Tza.Ch, A.Da.Sh, Be.A.Cha.B”.” Can you identify a theme for each group of plagues?
Hint: Read the following three verses in the book of Exodus carefully: 1) 7:17 2) 8:18 3) 9:14 (Note: Each of the three verses appears after the first plague in its respective group)
6. Why are these Mitzvot different than all other Mitzvot?
The Haggadah states that to truly fulfill the mitzvah of conducting a seder, we are required to explain the purpose and reason that underly three Mitzvot - Pesach, Matzah, and Moror (bitter herbs). But no other Mitzvah includes such a requirement. Why do these three mitzvot alone contain the additional requirement?
Hint: We have a parental obligation to tell our children the story of the Exodus.
7. Missing in action
Which main character is missing from the entire Haggadah and why?
Hint: What fundamental beliefs are we trying to convey to our children and to ourselves on the Seder night? What important relationship are we trying to stress throughout the Haggadah?
Hint: Is a bad opinion worse than no opinion?
4. Who is the real villan?
The objective of the Seder is to recount our suffering in Egypt and how G-d miraculously set us free. One would think, then, that the Haggadah would focus exclusively on our persecution at the hands of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Oddly enough, though, the Haggadah states: “Go learn what Laban the Aramean attempted to do to our father Jacob -- Pharaoh wanted to kill only the boys, but Laban wanted to uproot the whole Jewish nation.” Doesn't this undercut the goal of the evening? It almost makes it sound as if Pharaoh was nothing compared to Laban! Why does the Haggadah seem to minimize Pharaoh's evil by emphasizing that Laban was even worse?
Hint: How did Laban seek to “uproot” the Jewish people? Was he trying to destroy us physically or spiritually?
5. Name that theme!
“Rabbi Yehuda combined the initials (of the Plagues) into acronyms: “De.Tza.Ch, A.Da.Sh, Be.A.Cha.B”.” Can you identify a theme for each group of plagues?
Hint: Read the following three verses in the book of Exodus carefully: 1) 7:17 2) 8:18 3) 9:14 (Note: Each of the three verses appears after the first plague in its respective group)
6. Why are these Mitzvot different than all other Mitzvot?
The Haggadah states that to truly fulfill the mitzvah of conducting a seder, we are required to explain the purpose and reason that underly three Mitzvot - Pesach, Matzah, and Moror (bitter herbs). But no other Mitzvah includes such a requirement. Why do these three mitzvot alone contain the additional requirement?
Hint: We have a parental obligation to tell our children the story of the Exodus.
7. Missing in action
Which main character is missing from the entire Haggadah and why?
Hint: What fundamental beliefs are we trying to convey to our children and to ourselves on the Seder night? What important relationship are we trying to stress throughout the Haggadah?
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