Maggid

Year after year we are obligated to tell the story of the departure from Mitzrayim. We are obligated to tell the story of our slavery and our redemption from slavery. We are obligated to talk about being and doing and them trusting in unexplainable realities. We are obligated to tell it as often as we can, because each year, as we live our lives day-by-day, the internal reality from within which we view the world changes. And as our internal reality changes, we see the concept of "slavery" differently. By telling and retelling the story, we create a linked-chain back through the ages, all the way back to our ancestors who physically left the oppression of Egypt.

Passover is a family holiday because of the importance it places on conveying the story and meaning of Passover to the next Generation. It is the children's role to ask the Four Questions; it is the role to impress upon them the significance of the answers, for we understand fully what our children may not: that the future of the Jewish People lies with them. For our people to continue our history, in every generation each of us and each of our children must feel as though we ourselves were slaves in Egypt and were redeemed. In this way, each new generation can take its place in the chain of Jewish people leading down from the Exodus to the present.

Questioning is a sign of freedom, proof that we are free to investigate, to analyze, to satisfy our intellectual curiosity. Anyone can ask questions; the youngest, the oldest, even a scholar at the table of scholars. Because we encourage our children to question and to join in our observance, now let one of them ask the Four Questions, about the differences that mark this night.

Indeed, this night is very different from all other nights of the year. On this night we celebrate our ancestors' going forth in triumph from slavery into freedom.

Why do we eat matzah tonight? Our ancestors fled Egypt in great haste taking unleavened dough with them. As they carried it, the hot sun beat down on the dough, baking it into flat bread, which they called matzah.

Why do we eat bitter herbs on Passover night? At the Seder, we eat bitter herbs to remind us of the bitterness our ancestors experienced when the Egyptian taskmasters oppressed them.

Why do we dip the herbs twice tonight? The vegetable reminds us of the green that comes to life again in the springtime, while the salt water reminds us of the tears shed by the oppressed Israelites. We dip the marror, or bitter herbs, in the sweet charoset as a sign that although our lives were made bitter with hard labor, with mortar and brick, we had the sweet promise of redemption that gave our ancestors strength.

Why do we recline at the table? In ancient times, slaves ate hurriedly, while standing or squatting on the ground, while the wealthy dined on couches. Since our people were freed on this night, we lean to the left when partaking of wine and symbolic food as a sign of our freedom.