Baruch HaMakom
What does the name HaMakom mean and why do we refer to God that way here? What is the added blessed be He at the end? How does it lead into...
Like 70 Years Old
The connection between Shema & the Exodus: What does mentioning the exodus at night have to do with telling the story on Pesach? Why do we mention it daily in the...
Afilu Kulanu Chachamim….
If one has all these (chachamim, nevonim, zekenim, yodim et haTorah) why retell the story? The seder is about reliving the creation of a new world order. Previous: Avadim Hayinu: Yad...
Avadim Hayinu: Yad Chazaka vs. Zeroa Netuya
What does it mean that we’d still be slaves in Egypt – the empire already ceased to exist? The difference between being freed by God and being freed in other ways....
Mah Nishtana: The Power of a Question
Why is magid in question-answer form – even when we already know the answer? The purpose of this format is to stop an old way of thinking & begin a new...
Understanding Yachatz: Secrets of Matzah
What does the poverty theme of yachatz & ha lachma anya have to do with the seder, why do we introduce the matzah both now & later? What does freedom mean?...
Secrets of Karpas
Why do we specifically dip a vegetable in salt water to arouse the children’s curiosity; aren’t there other ways? Why does it have to be a vegetable? Previous: Seder Night: What’s So...
Seder Night: What’s So Orderly?
Why on Pesach do we have to retell the story & reason for the holiday? Pesach recalls & renews the new world order. Talking about it brings it into reality. Next:...
Breaking the Matzah
Our minhag is to break the matza before maggid (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 473:6). The Rambam (Hilchos Chametz u’Matza 8:6), however, puts it right before ha’motzi, after netilas yadayim. The basis...
Rav Soloveitchik: Pesach Avdus – Part 2
There are 2 kinds of slavery, personal and political and they go hand-in-hand. We celebrate freedom from both at the Pesach Seder. Delivered March 15th, 1970. For part 1, click here.
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