B"H
Wednesday, Nissan 2, 5777 / March 29, 2017
Pesach is celebrated every year on the 15th day of the Hebrew month Nissan, because it is the day in which G-d liberated the Jewish people from Egypt.
Although the secular dates for Pesach will vary from year to year, the Hebrew date is always the same - 15 of Nissan. It is due to the different amount of days in a year between the Hebrew and secular calendars that they don't conform from year to year.
This year Pesach begins Monday night, April 10. Although Monday is only the 14th day of Nissan, but in the Hebrew calendar the next day begins from the night before - the day follows the night. Thus, Monday night is already considered Tuesday.
Q. Did the 15th day of Nissan have any significance before the Exodus?
A. Yes. On the 15th of Nissan, 400 years before the Exodus, Yitzchak (Isaac) was born to Abraham and Sarah. It was a great joyous time, as Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90. In fact, the name Yitzchak, means laughter. The birth of Yitzchak brought great happiness to Abraham and Sarah.
Q. Is there any connection between these two events which took place 400 years apart? Was the 15th of Nissan chosen to be the day of the Exodus at random or was there any significance that G-d chose that particular date?
A. G-d told Abraham 430 years before the Exodus, about the Egyptian exile where his descendants will be enslaved. G-d said to Abraham, "Your children will be strangers in a foreign land for 400 years." (Genesis 15:13). The 400 year count began with the birth of Yitzchak. Thus, the 400 years were up on exactly the 15th of Nissan, the day in which Yitzchak was born. G-d didn't leave us in Egypt even one extra day. He took us out exactly 400 years to the day. Thus, the Exodus on the 15th of Nissan was determined 400 years earlier, when Yitzchak was born.
Q. The book from which we recite our prayers all year long is called, Siddur. Why is the book from which we recite at the Seder called, Hagadah?
A. The Pesach Seder is especially designed with the children in mind. We speak of the four sons; the children ask four questions; we are told to begin the Seder as soon as possible after the evening service, while the children are still up. The children are major players at the Seder.
The Hagadah gets its name from the commandment in the Torah, "Vhigadta L'bincha" - "You shall tell your son." The Torah commands us specifically to make sure to tell our children, on the night of Pesach, about the Exodus. "Hagadah" comes from the word, "V'higadta" - to tell.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY