Pesach: Leaning and Redemption

There is a special commandment to reenact the Exodus on the night of Pesach. Of course, we cannot literally be slaves again to the Egyptians. But this is rather a commandment to think deeply and feel thoroughly the miracle of our existence after the ordeal of national slavery. Our Sages thus instruct us to feast on this special night while leaning on our side, like kings and queens fit for royalty. We are also commanded to drink four cups of wine, which are symbolic of the four types of servitude we faced. These actions remind us that we were once slaves in Egypt.

When the verse commands us to remember the Exodus, it uses the first person narrative. This teaches us that we need to not only recall the events, but also transfer their significance to our children with as much emotion as possible. Our children must look to us as a link in a direct chain to that first generation; the sentiment needs to be personal. Indeed, as the Sages have taught us, if not for Hashem’s intervention long ago, we would still be slaves to the Egyptians to this very day! We described in a previous lesson how the Egyptians employed black magic and harmful psychology to ensnare their slaves. Another lesson of the night is therefore the absolute power of an Omnipotent G-d.

When we eat the Matzah and drink the Four Cups of Wine, we must lean on our left side. This means that leaning on the right side, on one’s back, or leaning forward is not good enough. This is because feasting while leaning on the left side is considered royal demeanor. True kings would eat while reclining on their left side, each one with a private separate ‘mini-table’ serving him. Accordingly, we do not lean while eating the Maror (Bitter Herb). This is because the Bitter Herb represents our hardship and bitter toil.

Hashem uses four phrases in the Torah when describing our salvation from Egypt: “I will take you out… I will save you… I will redeem you…” and “I will take you as a nation….” Each one of these expressions hints to a different stage of the redemption. The first stage began with the first plague, the plague of blood. Our Sages teach us that the onset of this plague coincided with the end of our slave labor. Even though we still retained the status of slaves, our servitude was no longer enforced. The second stage of redemption was our actual physical exodus from Egypt. At that end of all ten plagues, we were let out of the country of our bondage. The third stage of redemption was Matan Torah (the receiving of Hashem’s Torah). This released us from the slavery of a material and finite experience. The final stage of redemption was the building of the Tabernacle in the desert, which allowed us to experience G-d’s Presence in our mundane day-today living.

Our Sages teach us that our final redemption will resemble the redemption form Egypt. We will also go through a series of stages until we are ready to meet our ultimate destination as the nation of Hashem. May we speedily merit this Final Redemption, Amen v’ Amen.

By Adam Suionov