Tuesday, April 7, 2009

170 - Pesach

The avodah on the night of the Seder is to inculcate within ourselves the ideas of the haggada to the point that each one of us feels as if he himself was redeemed from the bondage in Mitzrayim. The rasha mentioned in the haggada, although he shows interest in the discussion, nevertheless is considered wicked because he disassociates himself from the avodah of the redemption of Pesach. "What is this avodah for you?" he asks. Chazal tell us that had he been in Mitzrayim he would not have been redeemed. Freedom must start with a sincere desire to be part of the process of redemption.  

The Gemara tells us that even if one does not have children or a wife, he must still ask himself the four questions. What makes questions such a crucial part of the Seder? Wouldn't a mere recitation of the haggada suffice for one to be able to fulfill his obligation of retelling the story of the exodus from Mitzrayim? Rav Wolbe (Alei Shur vol. II pg, 394) explains that a question reveals the inquirer's inner feelings. One must have been internally aroused to cause him to question the proceedings. This is the aim of the Seder; to arouse our interest in the discussion to the point that we ourselves are inspired to identify with the redemption.

Reciting numerous interpretations or expounding on the inferences of the unique wording of the haggada, will not bring a person to this realization as much as his paying close attention to the deeper meaning behind the overall process of redemption from Mitzrayim. One who follows the story attentively from start to finish will be aroused to feel to some extent, "It was for this, that Hashem acted on my behalf when I left Mitzrayim."

Chag Kasher Ve'Sameach
May we be zoche to eat from the korban Pesach this very year!

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