B"H

Tuesday, 26 Adar 2, 5776 / April 5, 2016 – HAKHEL YEAR

Q.On Shabbat and holidays, after reciting the kiddush over the wine, we wash our hands and recite the blessing over the bread and begin the meal. But at the Pesach Seder, after the Kiddush, we recite the Hagadah first and only later do we eat the matzah and the Pesach meal. Why don’t we eat the meal first and recite the Hagadah after?

A.For a very practical reason.. If we ate the meal first, we may become tired and dose off.. and forget to recite the Hagadah.

Q.On Shabbat and holidays after the blessing on the kiddush wine, one does not have to recite a blessing every time they drink wine during the meal. The blessing over the wine the first time covers the entire meal. Why, at the Pesach Seder, after we made the blessing for wine over the first cup (the kiddush) do we recite a blessing over the other three cups of wine which we drink?

A.On Shabbat and holidays there is no mitzvah to drink more than the kiddush… But at the Seder, there is a mitzavh to drink fourcups of wine. Each cup is an individual mitzvah. Each cup expresses a different expression of redemption. Thus, we recite an individual blessing for each cup of wine. 

Q.On Shabbat and holidays we all enjoy a nice delicious kosher meal. We sit in an upright position while drinking the kiddush wine and when eating the meal. But at the Seder, when we perform the mitzvah of eating the matzah and when drinking the four cups of wine, we recline to our left side. Why?

A.In ancient times, the practise of eating in a reclining position was a sign of freedom. It was practiced by noblemen, and not by the common people or by servants. Although now we do not normally eat in a reclining position, we still follow this practise at the Seder as a sign of expression of the spirit of the Seder – celebrating our freedom. 

Q.Why do we recline on our left side and not on our right?

A.Leaning to the right side may be dangerous since food swallowed in such a position might enter the upper part of the windpipe and cause chocking, G-d forbid.

Another reason is that most people are right handed. Leaning on the right would make it difficult to use the right hand and that would not be comfortable, thus, restricting ones freedom.

Pesach(Passover) is the birth of the Jewish nation. On a personal level: A birthday is a very important day in ones life. The Lubavitcher Rebbe said, “A birthday is the day when G-d said, ‘The world needs YOU, because YOUmake a difference.’”

Do you know your Hebrew birthday?I would be more than happy to tell you. Please fell free to write.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY