Pesach 5781
Rabbi Jablinowitz
The Maharal teaches in his second introduction to Gevuros Hashem that the reason we call Pesach night Leil HaSeder is because there is a seder, an order to the miracles of Hashem. Just as there is an order to the natural world, there is an order to the world of miracles. Do not think that miracles happen in a matter of happenstance, but rather there is a set order to the miracles.
The Torah tells us that Bnei Yisrael left in haste, B’Chipazon, as the pasuk says (Devarim, Chapter 16, Pasuk 3), Ki B’Chipazon Yatzasa Me’Mitzrayim. And they baked their matzos on the run, as the pasuk in sefer Shemos tell us (Chapter 12, Pasuk 39), Ki Gorshu Me’Mitzrayim, V’Lo Yachlu Le’Hismahme’ah; for they were chased out of Egypt and had no time to delay. The Maharal explains in a few different places that the reason for the haste was because this is the way of miracles. Since miracles are not natural and are L’Ma’alah min Ha’Teva, they are also above time, L’Ma’alah min Ha’Zman. They happen at a quicker pace than natural events. He proves this in his sefer Ohr Chadash on Purim by explaining that when there is a turnaround in the Megillah and the miracle begins take place, it happens very quickly. We read in the Megillah (Chapter 5, Pasuk 5) Maharu es Haman and (Chapter 6, Pasuk 14), Vayavhilu Lehavi es Haman. The order of miracles is above time.
The Sfas Emes explains the haste with which Bnei Yisrael left Mitzrayim as being unique to their situation in Egypt. It is a well-known idea brought in the Sefarim in the name of the Arizal that Bnei Yisrael were on the 49th level of tumah, of ritual and spiritual impurity. Had they sunk any lower to the fiftieth level, they would have been too low and impure to leave. This is why we say in the beginning of Magid, V’Ilu Lo Hotzi Hakadosh Baruch Hu es Avoseinu Me’Mitzrayim, Harei Anu U’Banainu U’Bnei Baneinu Meshubadim Hayinu L’Pharaoh B’Mitzrayim. Had Hashem not taken our forefathers out from Egypt, we would still be slaves today in Egypt. Our forefathers would never have left and we would still be there today.
This is why Bnei Yisrael left in haste, B’Chipazon. Hashem had to get them out immediately before they would sink any lower and it would be too late. The B’Chipazon reflects not only the miraculous nature of the event, as the Maharal explains, but in addition it emphasizes the desperate nature of the situation.
Therefore, on Pesach night, we try to make seder of the events and try to clarify what exactly happened. It happened so quickly and in such a rush that it was hard to truly comprehend the depths of what was taking place. Expanding on the idea of the Maharal, Leil Ha’Seder is a time to understand and clarify for ourselves and our families the order of the miracle and what exactly happened during that rushed time of Yetzias Mitzrayim.
The structure with which we perform the mitzvah of Sippur Yetzias Mitzrayim is through a question and an answer. We attempt to lead our children and all those present to ask questions. The Sfas Emes teaches that these questions represent our doubts and lack of understanding. The four questions and the four sons who each ask their questions correspond to the four galuyot, the four exiles. Galus is a time of confusion and uncertainty. When we sit at Leil Ha’Seder and clarify our belief in Hashem and our understanding of our connection to these events, we become free. Every year when we sit at the seder and make seder, we are truly Bnei Chorin.
The pasuk in sefer Yeshayahu states (Chapter 52, Pasuk 12), Ki Lo B’Chipazon Tatzu; You shall not leave in haste. This is pasuk is referring to the ultimate Geulah. Yetzias Mitzrayim was a time of Chipazon, as Bnei Yisrael were not worthy of leaving Egypt. It needed to be done to save us, as we explained, however, confusion and lack of clarity remained. But when we sit at Leil Ha’Seder and tell over the story of Yetzias Mitzrayim with understanding and belief, we experience Geulah. And instead of Ki B’Chipazon Yatzasa Me’Mitzrayim, we are confident that we will experience the promise of the Navi of Ki Lo B’Chipazon Tatzu.
Good Shabbos and Chag Kasher V’Sameach
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