What's the Purpose of the Seder? Goucher Hillel 5777

(4) They pour a second cup [of wine] for him. And here the son questions his father. And if the son has insufficient understanding [to question], his father teaches him [to ask]: Why is this night different from all [other] nights? On all [other] nights, we eat leavened and unleavened bread, [but] on this night, [we eat] only unleavened bread. On all [other] nights, we eat all kinds of vegetables, [but] on this night, [we eat only] bitter herbs. On all [other] nights, we eat meat roasted, stewed or boiled, [but] on this night, [we eat] only roasted [meat]. On all [other] nights, we dip [vegetables] once, [but] on this night, we dip [vegetables] twice. And according to the son's intelligence, his father instructs him. He begins [answering the questions] with [the account of Israel’s] shame and concludes with [Israel’s] glory, and expounds from “My father was a wandering Aramean” until he completes the whole passage.

(5) Rabban Gamliel used to say: Whoever does not mentioned these three things on Passover does not discharge his duty, and these are they: the Passover-offering, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs. [The] Passover-offering [is offered] because the Omnipresent One passed over the houses of our ancestors in Egypt. Unleavened bread [is eaten] because our ancestors were redeemed from Egypt. [The] bitter herb is [eaten] because the Egyptians embittered the lives of our ancestors in Egypt.

(9) Up until where does he recite [before the meal]? Bet Shammai say: Until, "As a happy mother of children" (Psalms 113:9). Bet Hillel say: Until, "The flinty rock into a fountain of water (Psalms 114:8). And he concludes with [a blessing] over redemption.

Bet Shammai said to Bet Hillel: Has Israel already been redeemed that they mention the Exodus from Egypt? Bet Hillel said to them: Even if he waits until the cock crows, since they didn't go out [of Egypt] until the sixth hour of the day, how can he recite the redemption, and they hadn't yet gone out.

(Translation by Dr. Joshua Kulp)

(11) They may not conclude the pesach meal with an afikoman, like nuts and dates and parched corn. A person must engage in the laws of Pesach all night, even if it is just him with his son, even if it is just him by himself, and even between him and his student.

(12) It happened that Rabban Gamliel and the elders were reclining in the house of Bitos ben Zunin in Lod, and they were occupied in studying the laws of Pesach all that night, until the cock crowed. They removed [the tables] in front of them and they got up and went to the house of study [to pray].

(Translation by Dr. Joshua Kulp)

It was taught: In the provinces [outside of Jerusalem] they need two cooked dishes, one in remembrance of the pesach and one in remembrance of the hagigah.

(4) Ten miracles were performed for our ancestors in Egypt, and ten [miracles were performed] at the [Reed] Sea. [With] ten trials did our ancestors test the Omnipresent, blessed be He, in the Wilderness, as it is said (Numbers 14:22): “Yet have they tested Me these ten times, and have not hearkened to My voice.”

R. Yossi Haglili says: Whence is it derived that the Egyptians were smitten in Egypt with ten plagues, and at the sea with fifty plagues? Of Egypt what is written? (Exodus 8:15) "And the necromancers said to Pharaoh: It is the finger of G d, etc." And of the sea what is written? (Ibid. 14:31) "And Israel saw the great hand, etc." How many plagues by the finger? Ten. Say, then, that in Egypt they were smitten with ten plagues and at the sea with fifty.

R. Eliezer says: Whence is it derived that every plague with which the Egyptians were smitten in Egypt was four-fold, etc.? R. Akiva says: Whence is it derived that every plague with which the Egyptians were smitten in Egypt was five-fold? (Say, then, that in Egypt they were smitten with fifty) plagues, and at the sea with two hundred and fifty.

(1) It's a positive commandment fromthe Torah to tell about the miracles and wonders that were done for our fathers in Egypt on the night of the 15th of Nisan, as it is said (Exodus 13:3) "Remember this day when you left Egypt." As it is said (Exodus 20:8) "Remember the Sabbath day." And from where [do we know] that it's on the 15th night? The verse says (Exodus 13:8) "And you shall tell your son on that nigh telling him because of this." And the time when the Matzah and Maror are in front of you. And even if he doesn't have a son. Even great sages are obligated to tell about leaving Egypt, and anybody who speaks at length about the things that happened and what was, that is praiseworthy.

(11) Because God saved the Israelites by the very things that the Egyptians schemed against them, like "when a man schemes against his fellow" (Exodus 21:14). Namely, that God killed Egyptain firstborns just like the Egyptians killed all males who were born to the Israelites; and God drowned the Egyptians in the sea just like the Egyptians drowned the Israelite sons in the Nile; and God killed the firstborns just like "my son, my firstborn, Israel...and he refused to send them" (Exodus 4:22-3); and God hardened their hearts after they did not listen willingly.

And in this way God showed God's greatness above all other Gods, because no nation thought that any of their deities could avenge ​middah k'neged middah [like for like], they only thought that each deity could do one unique thing alone.