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Book Excerpt from Rambam & Redemption

Rambam & Redemption: The Haggadah and the Seder in the Works of Rambam By Benzion Buchman A Passover classic, this is a fascinating work on the Jewish redemption and Jewish destiny as perceived by Maimonides. Buy Rambam & Redemption at a special online price at www.targum.com

The Mitzvah of Sippur Yetzias Mitzrayim

In his Sefer HaMitzvos, Rambam presents the mitzvah of sippur yetzias Mitzrayim, relating the events of Israel's departure from Egypt, in the following way:

We are commanded to speak of our departure from Egypt on the fifteenth of Nissan at the beginning of the night, according to the eloquence of expression of each person. The more one elaborates in speaking of (1) the magnitude of what G-d did for us, (2) the degree of evil and suffering we experienced under the Egyptians, (3) how G-d took revenge upon these perpetrators, and (4) one's gratitude for all the mercy that G-d has granted us, the better it is, as Chazal say, "One who elaborates in speaking of the departure from Egypt is to be praised" (Haggadah). The source of this mitzvah in the Torah is, "Tell your son on this day" (Shemos 13:8). (Sefer HaMitzvos, Aseh 157)

Four distinct elements comprise the "telling" that the Torah requires. It is not enough to speak of G-d's salvation, to recognize His power and to praise Him for His mercy. We must also recognize that the Egyptians were punished for the suffering they inflicted upon us. G-d informed Avraham Avinu, "Your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved and made to suffer for four hundred years. But I shall also judge the nation that enslaved them, and then they will go out with great wealth" (Bereishis 15:13-14). It was important for Avraham to understand that justice would be done. The geulah of Israel is the result of G-d's hashgachah based on the fundamental principle of reward and punishment (see Peirush HaMishnayos, Sanhedrin, introduction to ch. 10, principles 10 and 11), and this is a lesson that bnei Yisrael must remind themselves of every year at the Seder. As noted above (in the Introduction), the physical geulah of Israel is possible only after the spiritual and intellectual one has begun, and with the mitzvah of sippur yetzias Mitzrayim we are meant to pave the way for the final geulah by affirming our belief in G-d and His hashgachah.

While the text of our Haggadah contains these four elements listed in the Sefer HaMitzvos, still Rambam emphasizes that the mitzvah is fulfilled in its ideal form only when the individual "elaborates" according to his own "eloquence of expression." Thus, each person should attempt to add his own unique insights about these four categories while reading the text of the Haggadah.

Buy Rambam & Redemption at an online discount at www.targum.com

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