I came across this question: What message should our children or guests or ourselves leave the seder with?
That's a good one to ponder before Pesach. The one that stands out for me is Hashem's involvement in the world, Hashem caring about what people do as we see with the deeds of both the Egyptians and the Jewish people.
Avi Shulman asked this question to R' Noach Orlowek and R' Avraham Fishman and both said the same thing: We should want our children to leave the seder feeling proud, joyous and privileged to be members of Klal Yisrael.
Mr. Shulman goes on to say that this should be the objective of every teacher and parent all year round, but it is highlighted Pesach night when there is the mitzvah of "v'higadita l'bincha."
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I think that one important message is that we should view the coming out of Egypt as though we all were there and the other is that we must always be proud but humble. Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks teaches that we were slaves so that we will always be in the forefront of creating a free society where all are given the opportunity to reach their full potential. A slave does not study Torah; a free man does.
ReplyDeleteYour last sentence reminded me of the Maharal's classic comment (Gevuros Hashem, perek 61) - once the exodus from Egypt took place, Jews are inherently free people and the galus that follows does not change that. Even when Jews did slave labor in Siberia or in German camps and factories, some learned Torah and many did mitzvos.
ReplyDeleteA slave must sneak and study Torah, he cannot openly attend Bais Medresh.
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