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Why do we retell the Exodus story even when our children already know it well? The mitzvah (מצוה) of Sippur Yetzias Mitzrayim is not a history lesson but an exercise in expressing gratitude. The Haggadah's structure—beginning with "Avadim Hayinu" to establish benefit, then stating the obligation applies to all, then teaching that more is better—reveals that Pesach (פסח) night is fundamentally about teaching ourselves and our children to feel and express appreciation.
Rabbi Zweig opens by addressing a fundamental question about the Seder: Why do we need to tell our children the story of the Exodus when they already learn it extensively in school? What is the real message we want to deliver on Pesach (פסח) night? The answer, he argues, is not found in imparting historical knowledge but in something far more fundamental to Jewish character development. The shiur analyzes the opening paragraphs of the Haggadah to reveal their deeper structure. The Haggadah begins with "Avadim hayinu l'Pharaoh b'Mitzrayim"—we were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt—and immediately adds that had Hashem (ה׳) not taken us out, we and our children and grandchildren would still be enslaved. This is not the beginning of a history lesson; it is establishing the basis for gratitude. Before we tell the story, we are meant to internalize that we are beneficiaries. This opening defines the mitzvah (מצוה) of the evening: expressing appreciation to Hashem for our freedom.
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Haggadah shel Pesach; Parshas Ki Savo (Bikkurim declaration)
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