Difference between revisions of "Obligation to Tell the Story of the Exodus/2"
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<point><b>Comparison to other mitzvot</b> – The Rosh compares the obligation to remember the Exodus when eating the Pesach to other mitzvot which similarly commemorate the enslavement and redemption, such as redemption of firstborns or celebration of Shabbat and holidays.  In each case one need not actively speak about the Exodus; the fulfillment of the mitzvah itself serves to commemorate it.</point> | <point><b>Comparison to other mitzvot</b> – The Rosh compares the obligation to remember the Exodus when eating the Pesach to other mitzvot which similarly commemorate the enslavement and redemption, such as redemption of firstborns or celebration of Shabbat and holidays.  In each case one need not actively speak about the Exodus; the fulfillment of the mitzvah itself serves to commemorate it.</point> | ||
<point><b>No blessing on haggadah</b> – The Rosh explains that there is no blessing made over telling the story in the haggadah, just as there is no blessing over commemorating the Exodus when redeeming a firstborn.  In both cases, the blessing is instead made over the active part of the mitzvah (eating of matzah and maror, redeeming of the son, etc.) which itself constitutes fulfillment of the commemoration.</point> | <point><b>No blessing on haggadah</b> – The Rosh explains that there is no blessing made over telling the story in the haggadah, just as there is no blessing over commemorating the Exodus when redeeming a firstborn.  In both cases, the blessing is instead made over the active part of the mitzvah (eating of matzah and maror, redeeming of the son, etc.) which itself constitutes fulfillment of the commemoration.</point> | ||
− | <point><b>Era of the Mikdash</b> – The Rosh's understanding of the commandment is very logical for the time of the Mikdash, when the Pesach was the highlight of the evening. Each family, in sacrificing a lamb and eating it with matza and maror, effectively re-enacted the original Pesach offering.  As such there was no real necessity to verbally relay the story, | + | <point><b>Era of the Mikdash</b> – The Rosh's understanding of the commandment is very logical for the time of the Mikdash, when the Pesach was the highlight of the evening. Each family, in sacrificing a lamb and eating it with matza and maror, effectively re-enacted the original Pesach offering.  As such there was no real necessity to verbally relay the story.   That said, it was also very likely that the act itself would have elicited questions and led into a discussion of the Exodus.</point> |
<point><b>Different modes of learning</b> – According to the Rosh, the night is experiential in nature. If "a picture is worth a thousand words," then a dramatic re-enactment might be worth even more.</point> | <point><b>Different modes of learning</b> – According to the Rosh, the night is experiential in nature. If "a picture is worth a thousand words," then a dramatic re-enactment might be worth even more.</point> | ||
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<p>The obligation only entails responding to a child who asks.  Had there been no child, a parent would not have to recount the story.</p> | <p>The obligation only entails responding to a child who asks.  Had there been no child, a parent would not have to recount the story.</p> | ||
<point><b>Source for the obligation</b> – As the only verses which clearly speak of verbally retelling the story of the Exodus specifically on the eve of the 15th (Shemot 12:27 and 13:8 ), do so only in the context of responding to a child, this position limits the obligation to such a scenario.</point> | <point><b>Source for the obligation</b> – As the only verses which clearly speak of verbally retelling the story of the Exodus specifically on the eve of the 15th (Shemot 12:27 and 13:8 ), do so only in the context of responding to a child, this position limits the obligation to such a scenario.</point> | ||
− | <point><b>Purpose of commandment</b> – The purpose of the commandment would seem to be to ensure the | + | <point><b>Purpose of commandment</b> – The purpose of the commandment would seem to be to ensure the continuous transfer of tradition.  As only the first generation witnessed the miracles first-hand, it is vital that they pass on what they saw, in an unbroken chain, so that later generations will continue to believe.<fn>See <multilink><a href="RambanShemot13-16" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanShemot13-16" data-aht="source">Shemot 13:16</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink>, "ובעבור כי הקב"ה לא יעשה אות ומופת בכל דור לעיני כל רשע או כופר, יצוה אותנו שנעשה תמיד זכרון ואות לאשר ראו עינינו, ונעתיק הדבר אל בנינו, ובניהם לבניהם, ובניהם לדור אחרון"</fn></point> |
</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
<opinion>Even Without Children | <opinion>Even Without Children |
Version as of 02:24, 28 April 2017
Obligation to Tell the Story of the Exodus
Exegetical Approaches
No Biblical Obligation
There is no Biblical obligation to tell the story of the Exodus on Pesach night. The verses which seem to obligate one are understood to refer to either cognitive actions, other days of the year, or parts of other obligations .
- זכירה בלב – The verse uses the verb "זָכוֹר" rather than "אמור" (or the like) and thus might refer to remembering in the heart and not recounting via speech.
- Heading – It is also possible that the phrase should be understood as a heading for what follows rather than an independent obligation. The nation is told to "commemorate the day you left Egypt" and the rest of the unit then explains how to do so: don't eat leavened bread, do the Pesach service, and celebrate Chag haMatzot for seven days.
- Obligation for the rest of the year – In addition, it is not clear if the verse refers to remembering specifically on Pesach or throughout the year. See Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael who reads this phrase as being the source for remembering the Exodus daily.3
Telling Through Eating
The obligation to tell the story of the Exodus does not necessitate a verbal retelling, but is rather fulfilled through the act of eating the Pesach sacrifice. By eating the lamb with matzah and maror, one re-enacts the original Pesach thereby effectively recounting the essence of the story.
Verbal Recounting
There is a Biblical obligation to verbally tell the story. This position subdivides regarding whether the obligation exists only if a child questions or even if not:
Only If Child Asks
The obligation only entails responding to a child who asks. Had there been no child, a parent would not have to recount the story.
Even Without Children
Every individual must tell the story of the enslavement and redemption, regardless of whether or not a child is present.