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are told to think of our-
told that all Jews, no matter their level
selves as having been lib-
of learning, must discuss the Exodus.
The Haggada gives an example of
erated from Egyptian slavery. We are
not hearing ancient history; we are
five leading rabbis — Eliezer,
remembering a personal event.
Yehoshua, Elazar ben Azarya, Akiva
Not everyone is good at relating his-
and Tarfon — all brilliant minds who
toric events and the lessons derived
had so much to discuss about the
from them. So the rabbis decided that
Exodus that they spent the entire night
people could use some prompting, a
in conversation. Their students finally
script of sorts. Hence, the Haggada.
had to interrupt by telling them it was
Since the point of the seder is for gen-
time for morning prayers.
erations to engage in discussion, the
To further develop the argument
rabbis designed both the seder and
that the mitzvah of talking about the
the Haggada to arouse questioning.
Exodus applies equally to all Jews,
In many homes, children are discour-
the Haggada presents the paradigm
aged from questioning the actions of
of a family with four children of vary-
their parents or from talking while they
ing attitudes to, and knowledge of,
are eating. On Pesach, however, the
Judaism.
objective is to get the young to ask as
What is important to note is that as
much as they can.
each member of the family is
Far too often, families go through the
addressed in a way appropriate to
seder mechanically, rushing through
him or her, the mitzvah of transmitting
the rituals so they can get to the main
the experience of the Exodus is fulfilled
course and then off to sleep. When
in a creative manner.
children interrupt to ask a question they
To further stimulate conversation, the
are told to keep quiet. The ancient
ancient rabbis introduced. various
rabbis would have been outraged.
foods and a special plate as visual
Adults sometimes silence questioning
aids to the seder table.
children because the adults, due to
Aside from matzo, probably the best-
,
their own ignorance, are unable to
known food at the seder table is wine,
answer. The role of seder leader does
taken in four cups. These represent the
impose a burden of knowledge. Fortu-
four expressions of redemption found
nately, new English-language editions
in the Torah in Parshat Vaeira (Exodus
6:6-7): "I will take you out ... I will res-
of the Haggada, replete with corn-
mentary from an extensive variety of
cue you ... I will redeem you ... I will
sources, are published every year, so
take you to me as a people ..."
nearly everyone can gain from and
Some rabbis insisted that the fifth
contribute to the seder.
expression of redemption, found in the
To obviate the argument that the
eighth verse, "I will bring you to the
mitzvah of talking about the Exodus is
land .." be added with a fifth cup of
only for the unschooled, who stand to
wine. The debate over the fifth cup
really learn something at the seder, at
was not resolved, but the fifth cup was
the beginning of the Haggada we are
added to the seder table as Kos