Maggid, the section of the Seder where we fulfil the mitzvah of telling the story of the Exodus, is a beautifully woven compilation of questions, answers, Talmudic discourse, and hymns of praise.
It is important that all in attendance should be involved in the retelling of the Passover story, and that the Haggadah be recited in a language that is understood by all participants. (However, even if participants do not understand Hebrew, there should be an attempt to incorporate the sacred tongue as much as possible, even via transliteration. This may be accomplished simply by reading only the blessings in Hebrew or by reading the paragraph headings in Hebrew and then continuing in English.) Some families have the custom of having every participant read a paragraph while others prefer that only the leader reads. Whatever one's family custom, remember: creativity is welcome. If the participants of the Seder are particularly theatric, a short skit can be added to keep those present alert and inspired. If those gathered at the Seder enjoy debate, prepare discussion points beforehand and give everyone a chance to air their views.
The following outline of the Maggid section is meant to help you understand the text as well as to inspire conversation. Remember–the Seder is designed for questions and discussions
(Please bear in mind that there are hundreds of different Hebrew-English Haggadot and translations of the following texts may vary slightly)
Ha Lachma Anya - This is the bread of affliction
The Ha Lachma Anya passage was added to the Haggadah after the destruction of the Second Temple (70 CE) and is written in Aramaic. Before telling the story of the redemption, an invitation is extended to anyone unable to celebrate on their own, underscoring the unity of Israel. (The Talmud ascribes the destruction of the Second Temple to lack of unity.)
"This year we are slaves, next year – free people!" How can one understand this passage today, especially in America where it seems that our freedoms are limitless? The Haggadah, however, is talking about spiritual freedom--when one is freed from the bonds of materialism and from the many fears that beset modern society.
Mah Nishtana - The Four Questions
The Four Questions are an essential element of a successful Seder because they underscore the importance of the children's participation and of asking questions.
While in Ashkenazi communities the Four questions are traditionally recited by the youngest capable Seder participant, one should not assume that the Four Questions are meant only for the children. Asking questions is everyone's duty. In fact, according to the Talmud, even if one is alone, one should ask the Four Questions aloud.
i) Judaism puts great value on questioning because questions demonstrate a sincere interest in learning answers.
ii) Since the Four Questions emphasize the participation of children at the Seder, it is important to remember to have discussions on a level that they can understand.
The order of the Four Questions varies between Ashkenazic and Sepharic communities. The text of the questions, however, is the same.
Many Sephardic communities lead into the Four Questions or into The Maggid section itself with an interactive dialogue. For more on the varying customs of the Passover Seder, CLICK HERE.
Avadim Ha'yinu.../We Were Slaves In Egypt and the discussion of the Rabbis
The response to the Four Questions is found in the section that begins with Avadim Ha'yinu. Why is this night different from all other nights? Because "we were slaves in Egypt..."
What does the Haggadah mean when it says that had G-d not brought out our ancestors from Egypt, then we, our children and our children's children would still be enslaved to Pharaoh? It is difficult to assume that this means physical slavery. We must therefore understand that the Haggadah is referring to a spiritual enslavement:
The sages teach that had the Jewish nation remained in Egypt even a few moments longer, they would have lost any ability to be redeemed. Had they remained in Egypt they would have become inextricably mired in the idol worship of the Egyptians, and enslaved to the deity of Pharaoh.
"Even of we were all wise...all knowing the Torah, we would still be obliged to tell about the Exodus..." The Haggadah uses this verse in Avadim Ha'yinu to segue into a discussion of 5 great rabbis who stayed up until dawn discussing the Exodus and why they spent the night retelling the Passover story.
Baruch HaMakom/Blessed is the Everpresent
Baruch HaMakom is a paragraph of praise.
HaMakom is one of the names of G-d which implies that G-d is everywhere (makom can also be translated as place). Baruch HaMakom reminds us that even in what seems to be the ultimate downfall - slavery - G-d was there, for G-d is everywhere.
The Four Sons
This section opens with a description of four children (the wise, the wicked, the simple, and the one who does not know how to ask), how they react to the Seder and how one should respond to their questions.
While translated as Four Sons, it must be remembered that Hebrew has no gender neutral language and the masculine is used for the general. Thus this section refers to both sons and daughters.
The section of the Four Sons reminds us that one must treat each child as an individual and pay attention to their particular needs.
The Four Children:
The Wise Child asks "What are the commandments which G-d has ordained for us?" This child includes him/herself with those who are commanded. This child is considered wise because (s)he recognizes his/her relationship to the Exodus and to G-d.
The Haggadah advises that the Wise Child should be answered by being instructed in all the laws of the Seder. Once a child is ready to study more, the Haggadah stresses the fact that all of Torah should be open to probing. Judaism welcomes and respects questions, and encourages probing minds to seek more and more knowledge and understanding.
The Rebellious Child asks "What does this service mean to you?" This child does not look upon the Seder, the redemption from Egypt or a relationship with G-d as having relevance to him/herself.
The Haggadah instructs that the Rebellious Child's teeth be blunted, meaning that it may be appropriate to answer this child sharply, in order to jar him/her from apathy and self-absorption and make him/her recognize that even in Egypt, to be redeemed one needed at least to recognize him/herself as part of the community of Israel.
The Simple Child asks for the meaning of the Seder. Unlike the Wise Child who has learned and is instructed in laws, the Simple Child seeks to understand the basic facts.
The Haggadah instructs that the Simple Child be told that G-d took the Jews out with a strong hand, so that such children will feel the security of G-d's love.
The One Who Does Not Know How To Ask must also be addressed, for very often this is the child most threatened with disappearing from the Jewish community. When one asks questions, one expresses some level of interest. Where there are no questions, there is likely to be no interest.
The Haggadah instructs that the child's interest must be stimulated, even if it means that the question is asked by someone else. The commentators add that the tone of the response must be appropriate for each particular child.
Copyright © 2010 National Jewish Outreach Program. All rights reserved.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment