Why do we begin the Haggadah by expounding a pasuk that seems to minimize the importance of the Seder night by saying that we have to remember Yetziat Mitzrayim every day! The 3 differences between סיפור and זכירה. What is the etymology of the word Haggadah? Why was it essential that the first three makkot […]

Nachal Sorek: אני ה’ לא שניתי – Hashem repeated “לא” twice and this is akin to an oath. Four reasons why the Shabbat before Pesach is called Shabbat HaGadol. Download the mekorot Shiur provided courtesy of Torah Anytime

New for 5779! Insights to share at the Seder. Recorded at the Young Israel of Woodmere.

According to the Tur, one of the main components of Emet V’Yatziv and remembering Yetziat Mitzrayim is mentioning Makat Bechorot. The Mishna Brurah points out that Gemara implies it’s not essential! What was the purpose of the makkot – punishment for what the Egyptians did to Bnei Yisrael or to force Pharoah to send Bnei […]

“Moshe said: “So said HASHEM, ‘At about midnight, I shall go out in the midst of Egypt.” – Shemos 11:4 Moshe changed the wording After months and months of HASHEM showing the Mitzrim that He alone controls every aspect of Creation, Moshe was instructed to warn Pharaoh that if he still wouldn’t let the Jewish […]

The four cups represent the four dangers from which we were saved: physical, spiritual, lack of connection to history, and a lack of connection to hope. In order to merit redemption we had to take a proactive step in each of these areas. Chazal say that we were redeemed because of four merits. Delivered at […]

…as if he personally left Egypt. “’In each and every generation a person must see himself as if he personally left Egypt.’ As it says ‘And you shall tell your child on that day, saying, ‘For the sake of this God did for me when he took me out of Egypt.’ It wasn’t just our […]

Sefer Shemot and the significance of names. What does the name Pharaoh mean? Why would Pharaoh believe the midwives claim that all the Jews knew how to give birth on their own? In Moshe’s first act he is shown fighting for justice. Why on Pesach do we have a specific proclamation inviting guests? Delivered at […]

The mitzvoth of the seder night are varied, but the inner meaning and message is one: Freedom. From Bondage to Freedom The essence of the seder is about the journey from slavery to freedom. It was on that history-altering night that God bathed us in His great light, a light that forever lifted us to a […]

Why do we end the Seder night with Echad Mi Yodea, which seems like a child’s riddle? Is it just a way to keep the children awake? When Yitro praises Hashem for saving Bnei Yisrael from Mitzrayim. Rashi says that no slave had ever been able to escape Egyptian servitude until then. How were Bnei […]