Difference between revisions of "Obligation to Tell the Story of the Exodus/2"
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<point><b>Cognitive /active/ verbal</b></point> | <point><b>Cognitive /active/ verbal</b></point> | ||
<point><b>"כל המספר"" versus "כל המרבה לספר"</b></point> | <point><b>"כל המספר"" versus "כל המרבה לספר"</b></point> | ||
+ | <point><b>Story of the Five Sages</b></point> | ||
</category> | </category> | ||
<category>Telling Through Eating | <category>Telling Through Eating | ||
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<mekorot><multilink><a href="RoshResponsum24-2MSParis420" data-aht="source">Rosh</a><a href="RoshResponsum24-2MSParis420" data-aht="source">Responsum 24:2 (MS Paris 420)</a><a href="R. Asher b. Yechiel (Rosh)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Asher b. Yechiel</a></multilink></mekorot> | <mekorot><multilink><a href="RoshResponsum24-2MSParis420" data-aht="source">Rosh</a><a href="RoshResponsum24-2MSParis420" data-aht="source">Responsum 24:2 (MS Paris 420)</a><a href="R. Asher b. Yechiel (Rosh)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Asher b. Yechiel</a></multilink></mekorot> | ||
<point><b>Source for the mitzvah</b> – According to this approach, the verses in <a href="Shemot12-21-27" data-aht="source">Shemot 12:26-27</a>, <a href="Shemot13-3-8" data-aht="source">Shemot 13:3-8</a> and <a href="Devarim16-1-3" data-aht="source">Devarim 16:1-3</a> which speak of remembering the Exodus as one offers the Pesach teach that the mitzvah is action-oriented and the recounting takes place through the act of eating itself. The language of "<b>וַאֲמַרְתֶּם</b> זֶבַח פֶּסַח הוּא לַי"י" or "וְהִגַּדְתָּ.... <b>לֵאמֹר</b>" is not understood literally to refer to verbal expression, but to the conveying of information.</point> | <point><b>Source for the mitzvah</b> – According to this approach, the verses in <a href="Shemot12-21-27" data-aht="source">Shemot 12:26-27</a>, <a href="Shemot13-3-8" data-aht="source">Shemot 13:3-8</a> and <a href="Devarim16-1-3" data-aht="source">Devarim 16:1-3</a> which speak of remembering the Exodus as one offers the Pesach teach that the mitzvah is action-oriented and the recounting takes place through the act of eating itself. The language of "<b>וַאֲמַרְתֶּם</b> זֶבַח פֶּסַח הוּא לַי"י" or "וְהִגַּדְתָּ.... <b>לֵאמֹר</b>" is not understood literally to refer to verbal expression, but to the conveying of information.</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>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 | + | <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 the haggadah | ||
<point><b>"כל המספר"" versus "כל המרבה לספר"</b></point> | <point><b>"כל המספר"" versus "כל המרבה לספר"</b></point> | ||
+ | <point><b>Different learning styles</b></point> | ||
+ | <point><b>Rejection of other potential sources</b> – The verses in Shemot 13:14 and Devarim 6:20-21 make no reference to the Pesach offering and thus cannot be understood as a command to recount the story through eating. However, they also do not obligate any retelling on Pesach at all, referring instead to speaking of the Exodus during other occasions during the year (when redeeming a first born and when teaching children about the import of Hashem's mitvot.) As such, they can not be brought as a source to obligate a verbal telling of the story on the night of the fourteenth.</point> | ||
</category> | </category> | ||
<category>Verbal Recounting | <category>Verbal Recounting | ||
− | <p>There is | + | <p>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:</p> |
<opinion>Only If Child Asks | <opinion>Only If Child Asks | ||
+ | <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>Purpose of commandment</b></point> | ||
</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
<opinion>Even Without Children | <opinion>Even Without Children |
Version as of 08:41, 14 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. It commands the nation 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.2
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.