The Anticlimactic Seder

The formulation of the seder allows for anticipation of an incredible climax, one where after dipping some vegetables in salt water (maybe a kzayit maybe less), a couple of catchy songs, trying to determine if this is in fact the correct time to be recounting the story of the great Exodus, we finally approach the moment where we discuss the great miracles God performed for us. And then, we spend our entire discussion trying simply to determine if the number of miracles performed in Egypt were only ten, maybe 40 or perhaps 50. We then try to figure out how much each of those numbers multiplied by five would be. And that is it. At no point do we discuss any of the wondrously illustrative midrashim that describe the complexity of all of those miracles. Instead we immediately turn to the three things we have to recount on this night. A purely technical discussion following what could have otherwise been an exhilarating tale.

Moshe Rabbenu, a prophet who is only mentioned in passing in the Haggadah, has a unique role in the transmission of the Torah to the Jewish people. Just last week, we described how for eight days he worked in the Mishkan as he introduced the new laws governing the avodat hamishkan and then immediately turned the job over to Aharon and his sons. Rav Aharon Lichtenstein emphasizes that this was exactly the point. Moshe as a Navi was allowed to do what no other man can do, and that is, introduce new laws in the Torah. Any other Navi was only given permission to evoke a horaat shaa, a law for that given moment, not something that would last for generations to come.

However, as soon as Moshe handed the laws over, it was no longer in Heaven’s hands. It is now our Torah, to do with as we determine is appropriate (within the context of the laws governing our mesorah). This is in fact demonstrated soon after. Subsequent to the tragic death of Aharon’s sons, he is instructed to continue eating from the karbanot and not withhold from partaking in them as would generally be the case for a kohen mourning his son’s deaths. Aharon however did eat from the karbon tamid, the daily karbon that was not unique to the hakamat hamishkan. When confronted by Moshe, Aharon was quickly proven to be correct. Illustrating that the laws governing the Mishkan had truly been removed from Heaven’s hands.

This, too, is the message the Baal Haggadah is trying to convey. The miracles were wonderous events that God performed for us. But they are not the point of the story. Now that He has redeemed us we must prepare to begin the next stage. We must discuss the technical details of the Seder so we understand the laws of how the celebration must be made. This is what we are entrusted to teach our children. The miracles, the midrashim and the wonderous events are wonderful but the main emphasis is on how we must continue our tradition once the Torah has passed from Heaven’s hands.