Pesach 5778
Rabbi Jablinowitz
The Mishnah in Pesachim 116B states, Bechol Dor V'Dor Chayav Adam Liros es Atzmo K'Ilu Hu Yatza MiMitzrayim. In every generation a person is required to view himself as if he personally experienced Yetzias Mitzrayim. This statement in the Mishnah is brought in the Hagadah at the end of the Magid section and is brought as a lead-in and a basis for our obligation to give praise and thanks to Hashem for all the good He has brought us.
Why is it essential for us to consider ourselves as having gone out from Egypt? Why can't we note the central significance of the historical fact of Yetzias Mitzrayim, and give thanks to Hashem for having done chesed to our forefathers? Why must we put ourselves in there as part of the experience?
Firstly, it is important to note that the Rambam brings this statement in the Mishnah as a Halacha. The Rambam brings this statement of Bechol Dor V'Dor in the seventh perek of Hilchos Chametz U'Matzah and brings a slightly different version than our Mishnah. The Rambam states Chayav Adam Le'Haros es Atzmo; not to view himself, but to outwardly show and demonstrate himself as having gone out from Egypt. From this Mishnah the Rambam derives the obligation to recline while eating and to drink four cups of wine at the seder.
The Netziv in his commentary on the Hagadah gives a very interesting explanation as to why it is incumbent on each person to feel as if he went out from Mitzrayim. He says it is similar conceptually to the Mishnah in Sanhedrim which says Chayav Kol Adam Lomar Bishvili Nivra Ha'Olam; every person is obligated to say that the world was created for me.
When taken at face value, this statement seems somewhat unusual. Stating that the world was created for me seems to encourage an approach of self-centeredness and entitlement; a negative trait we see way too often in our world today. Why would Chazal seem to suggest that one should focus on himself and see the world as revolving around himself? And why should this attitude be promoted in the context of Yetzias Mitzrayim and be the idea behind Bechol Dor V'Dor Chayav Adam Liros es Atzmo K'Ilu Hu Yatza MiMitzrayim?
The Netziv explains that certainly Chazal were not encouraging or promoting generations of narcissists. Rather, the point is that when one feels that the whole world was created for him, he feels a stronger connection to Gd as the creator of the world. He feels a greater responsibility towards maintaining and fulfilling the whole purpose of creation; keeping Torah and mitzvos. Typically, we tend to shirk responsibility and assume others will take on the role. But when we know it's for us personally, it's no longer appropriate to pass on the burden. This is all for us.
The same thing is true by Yetzias Mitzrayim. We are not recalling an historical event which took place thousands of years ago. This is our story. This is about our exodus and about our receiving the Torah and our entering Eretz Yisrael. And when we have the attitude that Hashem took us out, that Yetzias Mitzrayim was solely for each and every one of us individually, it encourages us to take more seriously our relationship to Hashem, His Torah, and Eretz Yisrael as well.
The Maharal teaches that three things are above time; Yetzias Mitzryaim, Torah, and Eretz Yisrael. This is why Chazal teach Bechol Dor V'Dor Chayav Adam Liros es Atzmo K'Ilu Hu Yatza MiMitzrayim. The fact that we go back in time and view ourselves as participants in the exodus shows that it isn't bound by time. And this is why Chazal teach (Rashi on Shmos, Chapter 19, Pasuk 2) that every day one should view himself as having received the Torah that very day; Sheyihyu B'Eineichem K'ilu Kibaltem Hayom. And the same thing is true regarding Eretz Yisrael. One needs to view Eretz Yisrael as belonging to us and not something bequeathed to our forefathers (Rashi on Shemos, Chapter 13, Pasuk 11). Yetzias Mitzrayim led to Torah and Eretz Yisrael, and the three are supernatural and above time. This reality is what enables us to feel closer to Hashem and to Torah and Eretz Yisrael.
May we merit on this Chag HaPesach to feel that Hashem created the entire world and brought Bnei Yisrael out of Mitzrayim just for us and respond in kind with a feeling of closeness and appreciation for all the good we have.
Good Shabbos and Chag Kasher V'Sameach
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