B"H
Monday, Nissan 3, 5782 / April 4, 2022
The holiday of Pesach (Passover) begins next Friday night, April 15. The family gets together at the Seder, reciting from the Hagadah the story of the miracle of our Exodus. Our sages say that the more time one spends discussing the miracles of Pesach the more praiseworthy one is.
Q. Moshe (Moses) led the Jewish people out of Egypt. Why is it that in the Hagadah, which we recite at the Seder, in which the story of the Exodus is told, Moshe’s name is hardly mentioned?
A. The Torah tells us that Moshe was the most humble person upon the face of the earth. Moshe’s humility was so great that he didn’t take any credit for his role in the Exodus. It also emphasizes the point which we read in the Hagadah, “G-d brought us out from Egypt, not through an angel, not through a messenger, only the Holy One Blessed is He, Himself.” Thus, Moshe’s name is not stressed in the Hagadah to show that the liberation came from the highest level, from G-d Himself.
Q. The story of the Exodus took place 3334 years ago. Yet, today we are again in Exile. What’s the point of celebrating our Freedom from Egypt when we are still in Exile?
A. The following parable explains it. A poor man, who never had an education, won a great deal of money in the lottery. The first thing he did was to hire teachers to give him the education he missed out on in his youth. Over the years he became a very learned man. Each year he celebrated the anniversary of the day when he won the lottery.
Unfortunately, as time went by, he lost all his money and was again the poor man he was before his winnings. However, he still continued his custom of celebrating the day when he became rich.
He was asked why he continued to celebrate the day when he won the lottery, now that there was nothing left of his wealth?
He replied, “The money is gone, but the education and knowledge I acquired as a result of that winning is still with me. That’s why I celebrate!”
The same is with our celebrating the Exodus from Egypt. True, we are again in Exile, however, as a result of the Exodus, G-d brought us to Mount Sinai where He gave us the Torah. In fact, the purpose of the Exodus was so that we will receive the Torah, and the Torah we have to this very day. No one can take from us the Torah.
Q. The order of the “Four sons” mentioned in the Hagadah are, 1) Wise son; 2) Wicked son; 3) Simple son; 4) One who does not know to ask. Why is the wicked son placed second rather than last?
A. We place the wicked son next to the wise one, so the smart son will influence him to better his ways. This teaches us that we shouldn't give up on any child. Instead, the wise son should try and influence the wicked one so that he, too, will become wise and go in the right path.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY