Timely Insights

Pre Pesach Shabbos Hagadol by Baruch Bodenheim Stories Versus Testimonies: Both Count Associate Rosh Yeshiva

This Issue is dedicated by Mr. and Mrs. David and Judy Citer L'Iluy Nishmas his mother, Meita bas Avraham a"h (Manya Citer) (Yahrzeit, 8th of Nissan)

One of my talmidim loves giving me a newly published sefer before each Yom Tov. For Pesach, he just gave me the new Chasam Sofer by Rabbi Yisroel Besser. Last year, it was the Rav Chaim Kanievsky Haggadah and the year prior, the Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman Haggadah. It’s easy to find new material for the Pesach Seder—each year many new come out. In fact, the Haggadah Shel Pesach has the most explanations of all Jewish texts. Still, we’re retelling the same story each year. Why the need for so many new commentaries? One of the pivotal mitzvos of seder night is Sipur yetzias Mitzrayim - telling the story of leaving Egypt. The section in the Haggadah of Maggid focuses on this . Why does the Haggadah not call that section “Sipur”? What is the connotation of maggid - telling over something – as opposed to sipur? There are two pesukim in the Torah which instruct us to retell the story of our journey from bondage to freedom. “lema’an tesaper b’oznei vincha”1 - in order that you tell the story in the ears of your children. And “vehigadita lebincha”2 – and you shall tell your children. Here, both terms of Sipur and Maggid are used about retelling the story. What is the difference? The Malbim3 explains that maggid means to tell something which is hidden to the person who needs to hear it. We see this in the pasuk about testimony - “v’im lo yagid”4 - if he doesn't testify. When someone testifies, he is informing the court about information unknown to it, which the court needs to hear in order to deal with the case at hand. Similarly, Maggid in the Seder has us testify about what occurred in Mitzrayim and to disclose unknown details. Rav Avrohom Schorr5 explains this is perhaps why there are so many new commentaries printed each year about the Haggadah. To enhance the concept of “Maggid,” in the Seder, providing new information or another perspective that wasn't mentioned the prior year, keeps the story fresh and exciting. Further, the Rambam6 tells us the story of our redemption must be communicated to children according to their personalities, as the Haggadah discusses regarding the capabilities and outlooks of the Four Sons. It takes time and thought to creatively engage our children…and ourselves. The aspect of sipur - retelling the story of Yetzias Mitzrayim - is also very important. Everyone loves a good story. Indeed, a good storyteller vividly brings out the details which helps the listener visualize and feel like he is actually experiencing the story, which is another specific mitzvah of Seder night!! Rav Matisyahu Salomon7 adds that telling a story makes an impression on both the listener and the person telling the story. The pasuk that instructs us to tell the story concludes with the words “vidatem ki ani Hashem”8 and you (both the teller and listener) will know that I am Hashem. Both the elements of maggid and sipur are critical in communicating the story of our exodus from Egypt. In a study at Princeton University, Israeli professor Uri Hasson found that when you listen to a well-told story, the parts of the brain that respond are the same as those that would respond if you were actually there. He connected people to an MRI machine while they listened to a story. He found that if a storyteller describes an experience - like throwing a football, their motor cortex responds, specifically the part associated with hand and arm movement. The research found that this effect also happens to the person telling the story. So, as the story is being told, both the storyteller and the listener’s brains start lighting up in sync with one another! This is the powerful connection we feel when listening to a well-told story. Maggid tells the story as a reality, disclosing new details about the past, while sipur makes it live and real so we can see ourselves in the story. To really fulfill the potential of this special night of Seder takes much thought and preparation. That’s

1 Bo 10:2 2 Bo 13:8 3 Tehillim 19:2 4 Vayikra 5:1 5 HaLekach VliHalibuv, Haggadah Shel Pesach page 8 6 Hilchos Umatzah 7:2 7 Matnas Chaim, Haggadah Shel Pesach 8 Bo 10:2 part of why the Shabbos Hagadol drasha is normally given the Shabbos prior to Pesach. This year, we do this one week earlier, since Shabbos is erev Pesach. Let’s use this week to help make our Seder exciting and relevant to the children and participants of all ages! Personally, I like using props for the makkos (plagues). My favorite are the many ‘mini wild animals’ I have, or the golden chariot I use for pharaoh chasing the Jews. I even have a five foot skeleton in my closet which I don't take out anymore, since it scared one of my daughters. New commentaries and explanations should be relatable to each child’s age and maturity. Consider having prizes and incentives for active participation as well. By making it exciting and actively listening when someone is talking, we make our Seder into a transformative experience for the whole family!

Hilchos Shabbos Erev Pesach by Rabbi Baruch Bodenheim

[Please note that all times listed below regarding the 4th, on Shabbos, the sale will be executed on Friday the 13th of 5th or 10th hour of erev Pesach, are for Passaic, NJ. Those Nissan. Most Rabbanim execute the sale Friday morning at outside Passaic need to calculate those times locally] the start of the fourth hour of the day. Thursday, 12 Nissan, March 25 Any Chametz saved for use on Shabbos, must be consumed Ta’anis Bechorim - entirely or flushed down the toilet before the end of the fifth hour of Shabbos. One may not place any chametz Normally the fast is Erev Pesach, the 14th of Nissan. saved for Shabbos in a cabinet with the sold chametz. However, one may not fast on Shabbos, so the fast is moved Therefore, one should put aside only a small number of to a prior date. Since it is not proper to fast the entire day rolls for Shabbos night and the early morning seudah. of Erev Shabbos, the fast is observed this year two days earlier on Thursday, 12th of Nissan - March 25, 2021.1 If a Shabbos, 14 Nissan, March 27 firstborn does not want to fast, he must partake in a Siyum Shacharis or seudas Mitzvah2. Most shuls schedule a Siyum Shacharis should be scheduled to start early in the immediately after Shacharis, which exempts the first born morning so that it concludes with ample time for people to who attend, from fasting. have their Shabbos seudah with Challah before the fifth (Search for Chametz) hour of the day.5 The search for Chametz is ordinarily performed the night Shabbos meals before Pesach, on the night of the 14th of Nissan. This year, These meals present both technical and halachic the 14th of Nissan is Leil Shabbos - Friday night, so, the challenges. Technically, the house is completely pesachdik Bedika is conducted a night earlier, on Thursday night, 13th but one needs bread for lechem mishna for the Shabbos of Nissan - March 25, 2021. The search is made as in all meals. It is prohibited to eat Matzah on Erev Pesach;6 most years with a candle (or a flashlight). The bracha of “al biur people have the minhag not to eat matzah starting from chametz'' is recited before one begins the search. At the Rosh Chodesh on, and some start from Purim. Therefore, conclusion of the Bedika, Kol Chamirah (the annulment of the practical but challenging option is to eat a chametz chametz) is declared, as is done in a regular year. All bread product, such as challah, a roll, or pita. remaining chametz that one intends to burn the next Obviously, care needs to be taken not to eat chametz morning or to eat until Shabbos morning must be placed in alongside or near Pesach items. One option is to place a secure location where it will not get scattered or moved plastic tablecloths over the table and eat bread, preferably 3 inadvertently. one that produces the least amount of crumbs (pita bread) Friday, 13 Nissan, March 26 and later remove the plastic and shake it out outside. The Burning of the Chametz rest of the meal may be eaten on the Pesach items, 7 The burning of the chametz normally takes place on the provided it does not contain any chametz. 14th of Nisan before the sixth hour of the day. Since this Cooked chametz foods should not be used for the meals year the 14th is Shabbos, and it is prohibited to make fire this Shabbos, as washing the pans from the chametz or burn items on Shabbos, the burning of chametz will take residue presents a great challenge.8 To avoid dealing with place a day earlier- Friday, 13 Nissan, March 26, 2021 crumbs from the rolls used on Shabbos, many people eat before the sixth hour (11:48 AM). Although the burning of them outdoors. However, if one plans to just make Kiddush chametz occurs on Friday, chametz may still be eaten until and eat the challah outside, e.g., on a porch or deck the fifth hour of Erev Pesach which is 10:33 AM on attached to the house, and then eat the rest of his meal Shabbos morning, 14 Nissan. Therefore, the declaration of indoors, it’s best to bentch outside as well. .For Sefardim, Kol Chamirah is not recited after the burning of the the halacha is that they need to recite kiddush, eat challah, chametz on Friday, and instead it is made on Shabbos and the meal all in one location.9 morning4. Sefardim have an option of using egg matzah on erev Selling of Chametz Pesach. There is a big discussion among the Poskim Ordinarily, the actual sale of chametz to a non-Jew is whether egg matzah may be eaten on Pesach. The conducted on Erev Pesach at the start of the fifth hour of Sephardim eat kosher for Pesach egg matzah. Even though the day. However, since sales transactions are prohibited Matzah is prohibited to be eaten on Erev Pesach, egg matzah is not included in this prohibition since it does not matzah on erev Pesach, so you will have an have the taste of Matzah. However, this is not an option for appetite for Matzah at the seder.18 Ashkenazim who do not eat egg matzah, unless in pressing 3. Those who do not eat Gebrochts can eat chicken, circumstances, such as where a sick or elderly person meat, fish, fruits or anything else “substantial” for needs it10. the third meal.19 Removing all Chametz & declaration of Kol Chamirah 4. The Mishna Berurah brings an additional option to Chametz may not be eaten after 10:33 AM on Shabbos erev fulfill the requirement of eating bread for the third Pesach. meal: Start your first meal early, wash for bread, All leftover challah must be discarded by the fifth hour, eat a meal, bentch, take a break, then sit down for 11:48 AM.11 another meal with bread in the morning before the fifth hour. Eating the bread must be completed The chametz should not be placed in one's own personal before the fifth hour; however, the meal can garbage can, whether inside or outside the home. Any extend afterwards.20 Using this approach, chicken, remaining chametz should either be flushed down the meat, fish, fruits or anything else “substantial,” still toilet or placed outside and left ownerless (if there’s an has to be eaten as a meal in the afternoon. eruv in your city.) Preparation of Food Items for Seder Kol Chamirah (annulment of chametz) must be declared before 11:48 AM All preparations should be made on Friday, as one may not prepare on Shabbos for after Shabbos, even if Yom Tov Seudah Shlishis (third meal) follows Shabbos. For example (Roasting an egg and shank There is a Halachik challenge as to how one fulfills the bone, checking the leaves for bugs, washing dishes mitzvah of Seudah Shlishis on Shabbos Erev Pesach, as one etc.) may not eat matzah the entire day and chametz may not be Motzei Shabbos eaten after the fourth hour. One must recite hamavdil bein kodesh l’kodesh before one There is a dispute whether one must eat bread products engages in Melachah. for the third meal and we typically follow the opinion that requires bread.12 If one would like to eat two meals of Havdalah is recited together with Kiddush at the Seder in bread during the day, they both would have to be eaten the order of Yaknhaz (yayin - wine, kiddush, Ner, havdalah, before the fifth hour. While the halacha is that Seudah z’man - shehechiyanu) which can be found in the Shelishis must be eaten only in the afternoon with bread,13 Haggadah. the Shulchan Aruch rules that on Shabbos erev Pesach, we can eat chicken, meat, fish, fruits or anything else “substantial” without bread, since it’s considered “a time 1 Shulchan Aruch O”CH 470:1-2 2 of need.” Mishnah Berurah s”k 10 3 Shulchan Aruch 444:1 What should one practically do for Seudah Shlishis on 4 Shulchan Aruch 444:2 Shabbos Erev Pesach? 5 Mishna Berurah 444 s”k 4 6 Shulchan Aruch 471:2 According to the Gra the prohibition starts 1. Sefardim who eat egg matzah on Pesach have a from night of the 14th. 14 simple solution: they may use egg matzah , but 7 Shulchan Aruch 444:4 they must make sure not to eat after the ninth 8 Shulchan Aruch 444:3 hour (4:45 PM), so they have an appetite for 9 Shulchan Aruch 188:1,2 matzah on seder night15. 10 Shulchan Aruch 444:1 & 462:4 11 Shulchan Aruch 444:4 2. Ashkenazim do not eat egg matzah and are not 12 Shulchan Aruch 291:5 able to eat bread products in the afternoon. If one 13 Shulchan Aruch 291:2-3 eats gebrochts, then they may eat cooked items 14 Shulchan Aruch 444:1 made from matzah meal (e.g. kneidels) which 15 Shulchan Aruch 471:2 16 requires a bracha, borei minei mezonos in the Shulchan Aruch 471:2 & Mishna Berurah 444 s”k 8 however Shaar 16 Hatzion s”k 1 brings the Magen Avraham which says the custom is afternoon as their third meal. However, it is not to eat cooked matzah of erev Pesach and the Gra seems to rule it prohibited to eat even a cooked item from matzah is prohibited to eat cooked matzah on erev Pesach meal after the end of the ninth hour (4:45 PM).17 17 Magen Avraham 471:1 18 Important to note: only cooked items made from Magen Avraham 471:1 19 Shulchan Aruch 291:5 & 444:1 matzah meal may be eaten on erev Pesach. Baked 20 Mishna Berurah 444 s”k 8 as recommended from the Gra. Some items (cookies, cakes or pastries) from matzah Poskim are not fond of splitting the meal - see Halichos Shlomo meal are included in the prohibition of eating Pesach 8:15 footnote 65

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