How Pesach Brings Us Closer To Hashem

By Rabbi Moshe Krieger, Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah (www.bircas.org)

The Torah commands us that on the night of the Pesach seder, there is a mitzva to relate the story of the Exodus from Egypt. Rav Chaim Soloveitchik asks that this same mitzva exists twice daily – i.e., mentioning the Exodus, which we do at the end of Keriyas Shema. What is the difference between the mitzva of remembering the Exodus on the seder night and that of the entire year?

Rav Chaim answers that at the Pesach seder, we are commanded to say much more than a brief mention of the Exodus. On Pesach we are commanded to relate the entire unfolding of events of the Egyptian slavery and redemption, and in detail. Moreover, we begin by going all the way back to how our forefathers were initially idolaters. We must also tell the story of the Exodus in the form of question and answer.

Some want to explain that the expansive treatment of the Exodus on the seder night is in order to ingrain in ourselves faith in Hashem. By going into detail, and in the form of question and answer – this instills emuna into our children and strengthens it in us as well. The Sefer Hachinuch (21) states that the prime purpose of the seder night is to make palpably clear to the entire family, even the youngest children, the two main points of emuna: that Hashem exists, and that He controls all the forces of nature.

Rav Yerucham Levovitz adds that the elaborate relating of the Exodus teaches us how indebted we are to Hashem, and inspires us to undertake His service even more. He bases this on the statements of the Hagada that “Had we not gone out, we and our children and children’s children would still be slaves in Egypt,” and: “a man is obligated to see himself as if he [personally] left Egypt.” Why? Isn’t it enough to recognize that Hashem took out the Jewish People of that generation? Why must we work on seeing the Exodus as if it happened to us?

Rather, viewing the Exodus in a personal way, and speaking at length about it, helps us feel more directly Hashem’s kindness to us, and inspires us to serve Him better. Rav Yerucham Brodiansky adds that  Hashem’s whole purpose in taking us out of Egypt with open miracles was to show His kindness and love for us and enable us to come closer to Him. In fact, the Rambam (Chametz Umatzah 7:2) states that the first thing we tell our children on Pesach night is that our forefathers were very far from Hashem, but Hashem did great things in order to bring us closer to Him.

This idea is reflected by the Ohr Hachaim (Shmos 11:5), who notes that Hashem took us out of Egypt “not by means of an angel or by means of other divine emissaries, but rather He Himself alone.” Asks the Ohr Hachaim: Why didn’t Hashem send an angel? Why did He have to go in by Himself? Rather, this teaches that Hashem wanted a personal relationship with us, and a personal relationship cannot be built by means of an emissary. Just as Hashem drew closer to us, we too should try to get closer to Him and serve Him better.

Rav Yerucham Olshin notes that every year on Pesach, Hashem is reaching out to us and giving us a chance to get closer to Him. We should utilize this as much as possible! The Ramchal (Derech Hashem 4:8) states that even the matzos are a way of getting closer to Hashem. Aside from the mitzva to eat matza as a memorial to the Exodus, when we could not bake leavened bread, we also eat matza because it is a uniquely spiritual food. Unlike bread, matza has no flavor and is difficult to digest – it is a spiritual food, not a food that satisfies our taste buds. We eat it during the week of Pesach in order to help us depart temporarily from physicality and try to strengthen our spiritual side. That’s what the days of Pesach are for.

In fact, the entire array of mitzvos of the seder night are all ways of getting closer to Hashem. 64 mitzvos in all! Some d’Oraisa, others d’Rabbanan, and each mitzva we try to do with special hiddurim and halachic stringencies. This night, and its manifold ways of bringing us closer to Hashem, is unparalleled on the Jewish calendar.

The Slonimer Rebbe adds that on Pesach we should try to get closer to Hashem in other ways, too. We should certainly devote time to learning Torah lishmah and with joy. Also, since the family is all together now at home, this is a prime opportunity to do chessed, in helping others, in chores in the house, and even kind words are a form of chessed. Our davening should be with more enthusiasm and kavana. Pesach and bein hazemanim are also times to strengthen our honoring of our parents.

Rav Yaakov Friedman would tell his talmidim in Tifrach before they went home for bein hazemanim: Honoring your father and mother is a mitzva d’Oraisa and you must be extremely careful in fulfilling it. Now, before you leave the yeshiva, is the time to review all of the halachos of honoring one’s parents in order not to err in this precious mitzva. Rav Gamliel Rabinowitz also advised bachurim: every minute that you are in your parents’ presence, you are obligated in all the halachos of honoring one’s parents. You must not let your mind wander from these obligations even for a moment. He would then add encouragement, that those who fulfill this mitzva successfully, merit exceptional blessing, in addition to the Torah’s promise of long life.

Recently, a bachur who is having difficulties in finding a wife was advised by Rav Rabinowitz to redouble his efforts in honoring his parents, and that in this merit he would soon be married.

May we come closer to Hashem on Pesach!