An “outstretched arm” is the sword, as it says “and his sword was unsheathed in hand, outstretched over yerushalayim” (Divrei Hayamim 1 21:16) Another way of understanding this Drash is that just like the sword threatening Yerushalayim, there was also a ‘sword’ in Egypt threatening the Jewish people with destruction. Moshe told Pharoah at the…
An “outstretched arm” is the sword, as it says “and his sword was unsheathed in hand, outstretched over yerushalayim” (Divrei Hayamim 1 21:16) Where was a sword present in the plagues of Egypt? A variety of answers have been proposed. Perhaps it is a reference to the threat at the beginning (Shemot 5:3) which was…
The Hagada begins with a very short summary of the seder in Aramaic. Aramaic was the common language at the time when the Hagada was formulated, and the Rabbis wanted to begin with an overview easily accessible to all. The first thing we identify is the matzah as bread of the poor. This focuses attention…
A young child asks about a number of strange changes we make at the Seder? We answer by explaining that “we were slaves to Pharoah in Egypt, and Hashem took us out from there”. But how does this explain why we make changes? An ancient Yemenite commentary explains. A slave lacks choice, by doing things…
At the beginning of the Seder we invite those in need to join us in eating Matza and the rest of the Seder. But what kind of invitation is this? Its a bit late to be inviting people to the Seder, and besides if we say it at our house no one is going to…
