1) Magid: The recitation of the Hagadah; a fulfillment of the biblical commandment of "Sipur Yetzias Mitzrayim", the retelling of the story of Hashem's taking the Bnei Yisroel out of the bondage of Egypt and making us into a holy nation, children of Hashem as stated in the Posuk (Devarim 14:1) Banim Atem L'Hashem Elokeichem, you[the Jewish people] are children to Hashem your G-d.
One who relates the story of Yetzias Mitzrayim with joy and delight is sure to delight with the Shechina in Olam Haba. At the time that Hashem hears His children retelling the story, He gathers all the heavenly bodies and He tells them "Go and listen to my children praising me and delighting in the story of how I redeemed them!" (Zohar HaKadosh Parshas Bo)
2) Women are obligated in the Mitzvah of "Sipur Yetziyas Mitzrayim" as they too were part of the miracle of the redemption. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 472:14)
If a woman cannot recite the entire Hagadah (due to being otherwise occupied with the children or other valid reasons) she should at a minimum recite the following parts: Kiddush, Avadim Hayinu,'Pesach, Matzah and Maror' until Go'al Yisroel and the recital of the ten Makos, plagues. (Mishna Berura Siman 473:64. See also Siddur Ya'avetz.)
Of course, the children should participate to the best of their ability in the recital of the Hagadah, and the adults should gear the "flow" of the evening to the level of the children, as the Torah specifically commanded (Shmos 13:8) "V'Higadta L'Vincha Bayom HaHu, and you shall relate [the story of Hashem's redeeming us from Egypt] to your child on that day [Pesach]".
It is a Mitzvah to give out sweets and treats to the children in order to keep them awake and active during the Seder so they will ask about all the interesting things that are going on during the Seder.
The proper way of retelling the story of Yetziyas Mitzrayim is via "Question[from the children] and Answer [from the parents], thus it is not proper to put the children to bed immediately after "Mah Nishtana" before their questions are answered and they get a grasp of the miracles that Hashem performed for our ancestors on this night. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 472:16 and Mishna Berura S"K 50)
The Hagadah is not recited B'Heseiba, while leaning, rather it is said with reverence and awe while sitting properly. (Shla Hakadosh quoted in Mishna Berura Siman 473:71)
Halachos for Tuesday, First Day of Pesach
1) Rachtzah: The hands are washed And a Bracha od "Al Netilas Yadayim" is recited in preparation to eat the Matzah.
Even though the hands were already washed earlier by Urchatz, we wash again in case we may have touched an unclean area between then and now. (See Shulchan Aruch HaRav Siman 475:2 that in any case the first washing will not work for the Matzah)
Some Poskim say that it is proper to deliberately touch a covered area before this washing to ensure that the washing is necessary and a Bracha is permitted to be recited.(See Biur Halacha Siman 475:1. See also Halichos Shlomo Perek 9:38)
2) Motzi Matzah: The Matzah is eaten; a fulfillment of the biblical commandment to do so on this night.
It is proper to specifically have in mind, and to tell everyone in the household as well to have in mind, before eating the Matzah that what you are about to do is a fulfillment of the positive commandment to eat Matzah. (The reason for this is that Mitzvos Tzrichos Kavanah, Actions alone without having in mind what we are doing do not work when it comes to biblical commandments; See Shulchan Aruch Siman 60:4)
If this "thought" was not had, according to many Poskim B'dieved it is acceptable and no additional Matzah must be eaten, especially if the Bracha was recited with Kavanah and the Matzah was eaten B'Heseibah; other Poskim require another Kzayis to be eaten without a Bracha. (See Mishna Berura Siman 475:34 and Biur Halacha Dibur Hamaschil Aval for more about this.)
Maror: The "bitter herbs" are eaten to commemorate the bitterness that our ancestors suffered at the hands of the Egyptians.
The proper vegetable to use for Maror is a subject of debate amongst the Poskim, as today we aren't knowledgeable in the many species of plants that the Talmud discusses. (See Chayei Adam Klal 130:3)
The prevalent custom is to use Romaine lettuce and horseradish(which when grated is extremely "bitter").
Some Poskim say it's good to mix the grated horseradish with the romaine lettuce, while some Poskim say it is better to avoid mixing the two and better to eat them independently. (See Halichos Shlomo Perek 9:48)
Halachos for Wednesday, Second Day of Pesach (First Day of Chol Hamoed in Eretz Yisroel)
1) Korech: A Kzayis of Matzah is eaten together with a Kzayis of Maror; a fulfillment of Hillel's understanding of the Posuk (Shmos 12:8)"Matzos Al Merorim Yochluhu". (See Mishna Berura Siman 475:16)
Some people dip the Maror of Korech into Charoses while others have the custom not to; each person should hold onto their own custom. (Mishna Berura Siman 475:19)
2) Shulchan Orech: The festive Yom Tov Seudah is eaten.
Some people have the custom to eat the entire Seudah B'Heseiba, while leaning, especially when eating Matzah. (As the Rama Siman 472:6 rules that L'Chatchila this should be done.)
However, nowadays, the prevalent minhag is not to lean while eating the Seudah. This was the minhag of the Chazon Ish, the Steipler Zichronam L'Vracha and many other Gedolim.
It is customary to eat eggs [especially the egg from the Ke'arah, the Seder plate] at the beginning of this Seudah, to commemorate the Korban Chagigah that was brought on Pesach, and also as a subtle sign of mourning that we don't have the Bais Hamikdash in which to bring the Korban Pesach, and thus Pesach and Tisha B'Av always fall out on the same day of the week each year. (See Rama Siman 476:2 and Mishna Berura S"K11)
It is important not to overeat at this Seudah, in order to still have an appetite for the eating of the Afikomen. (Rama Siman 476:1)
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers. Taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Today website.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
Questions can be emailed to HalachaForToday@Yahoo.com
Reader's Question:
Why is there no Kashrus , Basar B'Chalav and Chometz concerns with metal braces[on the teeth]? Why is it any different than metal cutlery?
Answer:
I once asked this question to a prominent Posek and he answered that it is considered as part of the mouth, like a tooth, and thus doesnt require Kashering. Of course, any components that are removeable, must be cleaned and kashered for Pesach.
A Rav must be consulted in each specific situation to determine what components are considered removeable.
CHIZUK CORNER
As a Zechus for the Refuah Shelaima of one of the Gedolei HaDor, the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Stein Shlita, R' Chaim Yaakov ben Chasya Miriam, B'soch Sha'ar Cholei Yisroel, we will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short inspirational thought to help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR THIS SECTION, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO ME.
THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
אל תתיאש מן הרחמים
Chizuk Corner
Question:
What are the significances of Chad Gadyoh and Echod Mi Yodeiah [which are recited in the Hagadah during Nirtzah] ?
Answer by HaRav Avigdor Miller Zatzal:
Chad Gadyoh, just the first two words, that's all we'll explain right now. Gedi is a Korban Pesach, it's a Seh or a Gedi, Seh Kevosim or a Seh Izim, either one, so Chad Gadyoh. The Am Yisroel is symbolized by that one. Hakadosh Baruch Hu has announced that there is an Am Echod, there is only one nation in the world. Mi K'amcha Yisroel Goy Echod B'aretz, only one nation in the world. It's very important for us to think about that. Hakadosh Baruch Hu has announced, of all the nations, not only the nations! everything in the world, is nothing compared to the Am Yisroel. Hain Lashem Elokecha Hashomayim U'shmai Hashamayim, Hashem owns the skies and the skies above the skies. All the world and all therein. But Rak B'avosecha Choshak Hashem, only our forefathers did Hashem love. Now, Choshak is a special word like Chashukim, loops,we're attached, Hashem is attached to us, a permanent love, Choshak means attached to us, forever and ever.
Now that's a lesson that every Jew has to learn, that Hashem is attached to him and loves him forever and ever. And that's the significance of Chad Gadyoh, and what follows after that. Chad Gadyoh went through various experiences, Hakadosh Barauch Hu will take vengeance on anybody who has molested His people. Sooner or later everyone will come to judgment, there's no question, all the nations that persecuted us are all going to be wiped out one after the other.
Echod Mi Yodeiah: again, when we talk about what's called Echod, Hakadosh Baruch Hu is not just an Echod like we know, who knows what Echod is? It seems so simple, certainly Hashem is Echod. No, Hashem is not one, like you say one world or one this. No, Hashem is the only thing in the world, there's no world, the world is imagination. Hashem is the only one who has true existence, that's called Havaya, He exists, Hashem exists. Nothing else exists, whatever you see in the world is only His imagination, He imagined the world into existence. Ki Hu Amar Vayehi, He spoke and the world came into existence. If He would retract His word, He'd take back his word, the whole word would collapse into nothing, the Rambam says that. The only one that has existence is Hashem. And therefore, Echod, who knows what one means? One means sometimes, one of a kind. No! not one of a kind, He is the only One in the universe. The others take time to explain, but in the meantime, for Echod Mi Yodeiah, it's enough to know the great Chidush that Hakadosh Baruch Hu is the only being that has any existence at all, and all that exists in the world is only the result of His own desire to let them exist.
Important Numbers
