Difference between revisions of "Obligation to Tell the Story of the Exodus/2"
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<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>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 | + | <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 eve of the 15th..</point> |
</category> | </category> | ||
<category>Verbal Recounting | <category>Verbal Recounting | ||
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</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
<opinion>Even Without Children | <opinion>Even Without Children | ||
− | <p> | + | <p><multilink><a href="RambamHilkhotChametzuMatzah7-1-6" data-aht="source">Rambam</a><a href="RambamHilkhotKeriatShema1-3" data-aht="source">Hilkhot Keriat Shema 1:3</a><a href="RambamHilkhotChametzuMatzah7-1-6" data-aht="source">Hilkhot Chametz uMatzah 7:1-6</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Maimon (Rambam, Maimonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Maimon</a></multilink>, <a href="TosafotPesachim116a" data-aht="source">Tosafot</a>, <multilink><a href="RambanSeferHaMitzvotForgottenPositiveCommandents15" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanSeferHaMitzvotForgottenPositiveCommandents15" data-aht="source">Sefer HaMitzvot Forgotten Positive Commandents 15</a><a href="RambanDerashahLeRoshHaShanah" data-aht="source">Derashah LeRosh HaShanah</a><a href="RambanShemot13-16" data-aht="source">Shemot 13:16</a><a href="RambanDevarim24-9" data-aht="source">Devarim 24:9</a><a href="RambanDevarim26-3" data-aht="source">Devarim 26:3</a><a href="RambanMilchamotBerakhot2b" data-aht="source">Milchamot Berakhot 2b</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="סמקמצוהקי" data-aht="source">Semak</a><a href="סמקמצוהקי" data-aht="source">סמ"ק מצוה ק"י</a></multilink></p> |
+ | <point><b>Source for the obligation</b> – Rambam looks to two verses, Shemot 13:3 ("זָכוֹר אֶת הַיּוֹם") and 13:8 ("וְהִגַּדְתָּ לְבִנְךָ"), which when combined, teach that there is an obligation to verbally retell the story, even when no child asks. The two verses complement each other, each compensating for what the other lacks.  While Shemot 13:8 refers to a verbal retelling which takes place on the eve of the 15th, it limits the obligation to responding to a child.  Shemot 13:3, on the other hand speaks only of remembering and is unclear as to the timing of the commandment, but expands the obligation to all.</point> | ||
+ | <point><b>"זָכוֹר אֶת הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה"</b> – Rambam explains that the word "זָכוֹר" does not refer to a cognitive action but to speech, by comparing it to the command " זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת", which is also understood to refer to a verbal action, the recitation of kiddush.</point> | ||
<point><b>"כל המספר"" versus "כל המרבה לספר"</b></point> | <point><b>"כל המספר"" versus "כל המרבה לספר"</b></point> | ||
</opinion> | </opinion> |
Version as of 05:17, 16 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.
Even Without Children
Rambam, Tosafot, Ramban, Semak