B"H

Wednesday, Nissan 5, 5779 / April 10, 2019

Questions & Answers about the Pesach holiday & the Seder

Q.   Why is it that when speaking about the holidays of Shavuot and Sukkot, the Torah emphasizes that one must rejoice on these holidays, but with the holiday of Pesach (Passover), there is no specific mention of rejoicing on Pesach?

A.   The Midrash explains that although Passover is a festive holiday, yet the rejoicing is not a complete one. Although on Passover we were freed, yet, so many Egyptians, who are the “handiwork” of G-d, as all humans are, perished on that day, thus our joy is not complete. Although we were oppressed and enslaved by the Egyptians, we cannot rejoice fully with our freedom, when others are suffering.

Q.   Why do we omit the Tachnun prayer (prayers of supplication) in the morning and afternoon prayers during the entire month of Nissan?

A.   The Tabernacle was dedicated on the Rosh Chodesh Nissan.  On each of the twelve days of the month the head of each of the tribes brought special gifts and sacrifices for the dedication. These twelve days were very festive days and have remained so forever. Then we have the eight special days of Passover.  Being that most of the days of the month are special days in which the prayer of supplication is omitted, we omit it for the entire month.

Q.  How many times are we obligated to eat Matzah at the Seder?

A. Three times; Once for the Mitzvah of Matzah (after reciting part of the Hagadah and washing our hands); the second time is the "Korach" (sandwich of Matzah and Maror); third time for the Afikoman after the meal.

Q. Why do we eat the Afikoman-matzah at the end, after we have finished the meal? Why should it be eaten before midnight?

A. The Afikoman reminds us of the Pascal sacrifice which was brought at the time of the Beth Hamikdash (Holy Temple). The Pascal sacrifice had to be eaten at the end of the meal - "Al Hasova" when everyone was "satisfied" so that the taste of the Pascal sacrifice will not be replaced by other foods. It also had to be finished by midnight.  In remembrance of the sacrifice we too eat the Afikoman at the end of the meal and before midnight.

Q.   Why is it called Afikoman?

A.   “Afikoman” means "dessert," as it is the last thing we eat at the Seder.

HAVE A WONDERFUL HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Monday, Nissan 10, 5779 / April 15, 2019

One of the mitzvot associated with Pesach (Passover) is the contributions for "Maot Chitim." 

Maot Chitim literally means "Money for wheat." It is monies collected for the sake of helping the needy with their Pesach provisions. 

The emphasis on collecting for the needs of the poor before Pesach is more than on other holidays because of the additional expenses associated with the Pesach holiday - the holiday meals, extra wine for the four cups, matzah, etc.  

Let’s not forget this important mitzvah.  When we help the needy for Pesach it also helps us fully enjoy the holiday.For only by helping others who are lacking can we properly feel happy and enjoy our own holiday of freedom.

Q.  The story of the Exodus took place 3331 years ago.  Today we are again in Exile.  What’s the point of celebrating our Freedom from Egypt, when we are again 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 still 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.  The Torah, no one can take from us!”

Q.   What is the significance of the salt-water at the Seder?

A.  The salt-water is symbolic of the "tears" which the children of Israel shed as a result of their suffering during their enslavement in Mitzrayim-Egypt.

HAVE A WONDERFUL, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Tuesday, Nissan 11, 5779 / April 16, 2019

The Pesach Seder, which we will celebrate this Friday night, is performed with our children as major participants. We involve the children at the Seder, as the Torah tells us that we must give the children special attention at the Seder and tell them all about the Exodus.

The Torah tells us, “And you shall tell your son on that day, saying, it is because of this (the mitzvot of Pesach sacrifice, matzah and maror), that G-d did this for me when I went out of Egypt.”

The name “Hagadah” is derived from the above verse which commands us to tell our children, as the word to tell is Vehigadta.

From the Hagadah we recite, “The Torah speaks about four sons, one is wise, one is wicked, one is a simpleton and one is a son who doesn’t know what to ask.” We have to attend to each of these four sons at their level and tell them the story of the exodus.  

Q.  Why is the wicked son placed second, after the wise one rather than last? 

A.  One reason is that they are placed according to their level of intelligence.  Although he may be wicked, yet he is more intelligent than the two after him. 

The Lubavitcher Rebbe, who was born on this day (11 of Nissan) 117 years ago, explains that we place the wicked son next to the wise one, so that the wise son will influence him to better his ways. The wicked son is very important at the Seder table. The Seder is for him as much as for the wise son. No Jew should be left behind. We should never give up on anyone.   

In fact, in the Torah, the wicked son is actually mentioned first! This teaches us that we shouldn't reject any child, not even the bad one. Instead, we must try and influence the wicked one so that he, too, will become wise and follow in the ways of the Torah.

Q.  At the time of the Exodus, the Jewish people came out of Egypt with great wealth, as G-d had promised Abraham many years earlier.  Why don’t we make any symbol for the great wealth at the Seder?

A.  The Lubavitcher Rebbe, writes, "Jewish wealth are not houses and gold. Everlasting Jewish wealth is, being Jews who keep Torah and mitzvot and bringing into the world children and grandchildren who behave properly and keep Torah and mitzvot."

The fact that we sit at the Seder together with family members, surrounded by our children and grandchildren, who participate in the customs and traditions of the Seder and the great Nachas we derive this night, is a display of our great wealth!

HAVE A WONDERFUL, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY