BeforetheClockStrikesTwelve: TheSecretLifeoftheAfikoman ShabbatHagadol5770 RabbiYosieLevine TheJewishCenter FourJewishladiesareplayingagameofcardsinMiamiBeach.Thefirstladysighsand says,"Oy..."Thesecondladynods,sighs,andsays,"Oyvey!"Thethirdladysays,"Oy veysmeer!"Thefourthladychimesin:"Enoughtalkaboutthechildrenalready.Let'sget backtothegame." Butonsedernight,youcanbetthesesamefourladieswillbetalkingalotabouttheir childrenandgrandchildren.Andthat’sasitshouldbe.It’sanightthatinmanywaysis dedicatedtotheyoungergeneration.Andit’swiththechildren–particularlythewise child–thatI’dliketobeginourconversationthismorning. Let’sjumprightintothe: 1 . נוסחההגדה חכמההואאומר : מההעדותוהחקיוהמשפטיאשרצוהה ' אלהינואתכ , אאתהאמורלוכהלכות הפסחאימפטיריאחרהפסחאפיקומ . The wise one – what does he say? “What are the testimonies, statutes and laws which the Lord, our God, has commanded you?” You in turn shall instruct him with the likes of the laws of : “One is not to eat any dessert after the Passover lamb.”

Let’sstartwiththequestion.Weusuallyassumethathe’saskingaboutthelawsof KorbanPesach.ButI’dliketochallengethisfundamentalassumption.Isthisreallythe case? Bywayofbackground:there’sactuallyverylittleoriginalmaterialoftheHaggadah.The selectionsoftextthatwehaveareallexcerptedfromearliersources:Tanach,themishna, ?squestioncomefrom’חכthegemaraandthemedrash.Sowheredoesthe :פרשתואתחנIt’stakenfrom 2 . דבריפרקו ( )טז לאתנסואתיקוקאלהיככאשר YoushallnottrytheLORDyourGod,asyou 16 נסיתבמסה : .triedHiminMassah )יז( שמורתשמרואתמצותיקוק Youshalldiligentlykeepthecommandmentsof 17 אלהיכועדתיווחקיואשרצו : theLORDyourGod,andHistestimonies,andHis ( יח ) ועשיתהישרוהטובבעינייקוקלמע .statutes,whichHehathcommandedyou ייטב לובאתוירשתאתהארהטבה Andyoushalldothatwhichisrightandgoodin 18 אשרנשבעיקוקלאבתי : ,thesightoftheLORD;thatitmaybewellwithyou ( יט ) להדאתכלאיבימפניכאשר andthatyoumaygoinandpossessthegoodland דבריקוק : ,whichtheLORDsworeuntothyfathers כ( ) כיישאלבנמחרלאמרמההעדת tothrustoutallyourenemiesfrombeforeyou,as 19 והחקיוהמשפטיאשרצוהיקוקאלהינו .theLORDhasspoken אתכ : Whenyoursonasksyoutomorrow,saying:'What 20

1 ( כא ) ואמרתלבנעבדיהיינולפרעה meanthetestimonies,andthestatutes,andthe במצריויוציאנויקוקממצריביד ordinances,whichtheLORDourGodhas חזקה : ?commandedyou ( כב ) ויתיקוק אותתומפתיגדלי thenyoushallsaytoyourson:'Wewere 21 ורעיבמצריבפרעהובכלביתו Pharaoh'sbondmeninEgypt;andtheLORDbrought לעינינו : .usoutofEgyptwithamightyhand ( )כג ואותנוהוציאמשלמעהביאאתנו AndtheLORDshowedsignsandwonders,great 22 לתתלנואתהאראשרנשבעלאבתינו : andsore,uponEgypt,uponPharaoh,anduponall ( כד ) ויצונויקוקלעשותאתכלהחקי .hishouse,beforeoureyes האלהליראהאתיקוקאלהינולטובלנו AndHebroughtusoutfromtheresothatHe 23 כלהימילחיתנוכהיוהזה : mightbringusin,togiveusthelandwhichHe ( כה ) וצדקהתהיהלנוכינשמרלעשו ת .sworeuntoourfathers אתכלהמצוההזאתלפנייקוקאלהינו AndtheLORDcommandedustodoallthese 24 כאשרצונו : statutes,tofeartheLORDourGod,forourgood always,thatHemightpreserveusalive,asitisat thisday. 25 Anditshallberighteousnessuntous,ifwe observetodoallthiscommandmentbeforethe LORDourGod,asHehathcommandedus.' WhenwecomparethetextfromwhichtheauthoroftheHaggadahexcerptshisquestion, whatdoyounotice?What’sthecontexthere? Youshouldnoticethatthischild’squestionactuallyhasnothingtodowithPesach.The otherthreechildrenandtheirquestionsderivefromParshasBo.Thestorythereis explicitlyandunmistakablytheExodusandtheKorbanPesach.Butwe’reintheopening chaptersofSeferDevarim.Thetopicisn’tEgyptortheExodus.It’sperformingmitzvos anddoingwhat’srightandjustbeforeHashem.TheauthoroftheHaggadahhas appropriatedthischild’squeryforuseonsedernight.Butperhapsthere’ssomethingto begleanedfromthisoriginalcontext. anenormousamountofcredit.EventhoughheusesquiteחכNow,typically,wegivethe anaggressivetone,wereadhisquestionquitecharitably–asthoughhe’sjustinterested ingainingadeeperunderstandingoftheKorbanPesachanditsattendanthalachos. ButIwanttosharewithyouafivewordcommentarythatfundamentallyaltersour andreallytheentireseder.It’sacommentoftheSeforno.It’snot–חכperceptionofthe asecretsource;it’snotevenanobscuresource.Itappearsinanystandardeditionofthe :inSeferDevarim.Listentohowheinterpretsthechild’squestion מקראותגדולות 3 . ספורנודבריוכ: מההעדתוהחקיוהמשפטיאשרצוהיקוקאלהינואתכ ולאהספיקומצוותבנינח ? What are these testimonies, and statutes, and ordinances that Hashem has commanded you?WhyaretheNoachidelawsnotsufficient?

2 says“Whataretheselawsandstatutesחכisasking?WhentheחכYouknowwhatthe andhalahcos,”youknowwhat’she’sasking?Hisquestionhasnothingtodowiththe sederorwiththekorbanpesach.Ithastodowiththecontextinwhichwefindthe WejustreadtheTenCommandmentsandthe.פרשתואתחנquestionintheTorah.It’s isaskingtheחכShma.We’regettinginundatedwithloadsandloadsofmitzvos.The questionthatweneverask.He’saskingthequestionthatchallengestheoneassumption weneverchallenge: WhybeJewish? Whydoweneedanextra606mitzvosaboveand beyondthebasicseven?Wecanleadhealthy,moral,civilizedlivesaccordingtothe sevenNoachidelawsthatapplyuniversallytoallpeople.We’llbuildanethicaland respectablesociety.Whydoweneed613mitzvos?WhybeJewish?Whataquestion. RidingontheansweristheveryfutureofJudaism.Thinkaboutit.Thewholesederisan Our.והגדתלבנexerciseinadvancingourmesorah.Themandateoftheeveningis missionistopassonourtradition–topassonJudaism–tothenextgeneration.Ifwe succeed,ourvalues,ourmesorah,ourreligion–allmoveforwardandthere’safuture.If wefail,thenourgeneration’schapteristhelastoneinthebook. AccordingtotheSeforno,thischildisaskingustoexplaintohimwhywe’reJewish. Couldtherebeamoreimportantmomentattheseder?Couldtherebeamoreimportant momentatanypointduringtheyear? Sowhat’souranswer? Gobacktosource#2. TheTorahitselfanticipatesthequestionandprovidestheanswer.It’saboutJewish history.It’saboutGodandourfealtytohim.UnderstandJewishhistoryandyou’ll understandwhyyoushouldstayJewish.Itsoundslikeagreatstory.It’sapowerful argument.SowhydoestheauthoroftheHaggadahhavetobesmarterthantheTorah? WhyishenotsatisfiedwiththeanswertheTorahitselfprovides? ThisisinfactthetextoftheYerushalmi. 4 . תלמודירושלמימסכתפסחיפרקי דלזטורד חכמהואומ ' מההעדותוהחקיוהמשפטי ' אשרצוה 'ה אלק ינואותנואאתהאמורלובחוזקידהוציאנו 'ה ממצרימביתעבדי . [It’strue–thereisoneminorchangeintheYerushalmi–thegemarachangestheword inthisversionmakeshimselfpartofthequestion–whatdoallחכthe–אותנוtoאתכ [.meanfor us asopposedto you. Butdon’tgethunguponthispointהלכותthese TheYerushalmi’sansweristhesameastheTorah’s.It’sgoodenoughforthe Yerushalmi,sowhydoestheauthorofourHaggadahhavetobeevenclevererthanthe Theremustbesomething?חכTorahandattempttogiveanevenbetteranswertothe prettyspectacularaboutouranswer.Whatisit?What’sareweattemptingto sextraordinary’חכcommunicatetothenextgeneration?What’stheanswertothe question?

3 ThisistheframeworkwithinwhichI’dliketoplaceourdiscussionthismorning.Ifwe we’llhavesomethinghuge–we’llhaveananswer,חכcanunderstandouranswertothe tothesinglemostimportantquestionoftheseder. אי?Togetthere,weneedtoexaminetheanswermuchmoreclosely.What’stheanswer .מפטיריאחרהפסחאפיקומ Solet’slearnabouttheAfikoman.BeforewecangettotheAfikoman,though,weneed tosayawordabouttheKorbanPesach.OnthefirstPesachbackinEgypt,theKorban Pesachwasn’treallyakorban–itwasn’tbroughttotheMishkanortheTemple–there wasnosacrificeperse.ButfortherestofJewishhistorytheKorbanPesachthatweate onsedernightwasofferedinorTempleonErevPesachandthenpeople wouldreturntotheirhomesandthepaschallambwouldbeeatenfordessertatthemeal. Sowhatdowedonowadays? 5 . רא" שמסכתפסחיפרקיסימלד נראהלידאותהמצהאינהלשחובהאלאאוכליאותהזכרלפסחשהיהנאכלעלהשובע באחרונהולפישהואזכרלפסחישליתלהדיהפסחשלאלאכולאחריה .

ItallstartswiththepremisethattheAfikomanisastandinforthekorbanpesach. Asweknow,intheabsenceofourabilitytoofferarealkorbanpesach,weusematzahas asubstitute–andwecallittheAfikoman. Now–thisisanemailIreceivedonTuesdayofthisweek.

4 6.EmailCommunicationfrom[email protected],March23,2010 ThisiswhatIwouldcallafaithbasedorganization.Theyhopeandbelievethatthe TemplewillberebuiltbyMonday–inwhichcase–yousurelywouldn’twanttobeleft out.Soyoucansignuptoparticipateanditonlycostsyou$3.50.Youcan’tmakethis stuffup. Butforargument’ssake–let’sjusassumethatwe’renotgoingtobeeatingarealkorban pesachatoursederthisyear,wehavesomethingcalledtheAfikomanasasubstitute. HavealookattheRambam.Hetellsuswhattodoandhowtodoit.

5 7 . רמב" הלכותחמומצהפרקחהלכהט ואחרכנמשבסעודהואוכלכלמהשהוארוצהלאכולושותהכלמהשהוארוצהלשתות , ובאחרונהאוכל מבשרהפסחאפילוכזיתואינוטועאחריוכלל , ובזמהזהאוכלכזיתמצהואינוטועאחריהכלו , כדי שיהיההפסקסעודתווטעבשרהפסחאוה מצהבפיושאכילתהיאהמצוה . Wedon’thaveakorbanpesachanymoretodayintheabsenceofthetemple.Soweuse matzahasakindofstandin.Besure,theRambamwrites,thatthisistheverylastthing weeat–thetasteofthematzahshouldlingerinyourmouthandyoushouldeatnothing subsequenttoit. Now–fortherecord–weshouldnotethateatingsomethingasasubstituteforakorban seemstobeapracticeuniquetoPesach.Weofferkorbanosonalltheholidays.Wedon’t wewouldקרבשלמיeatbreadattheendofourmealintheSukkahasastandinforthe havebroughtifwehadaTemple.Sowehavetowonderwhyofallthekorbanoswe bringthroughouttheyear,theKorbanPesachseemstobetheonlyonethathasapresent dayapplication. Withoutexplainingwhy–we’llcometothatinafewmoments–whatI’dliketosuggest isthattheAfikomanisthemeansbywhichwecapturearemnantofthecomplexitiesthat pertainparticularlytotheKorbanPesach.Thereareactuallyasloughofhalachosthat applytothePesach:Ithastoberoasted,ithasttoberoastedinitsentirety,youcan’t breakanyofthebones,andsoon.Butintheabsenceofthetemple,inourlives,we’ve retainedthreeprinciplehalachos–threeeverlastingqualitiesoftheKorbanPesach–all .עדהיוהזהencapsulatedinthepracticeofAfikomanthatweobserve Sowhatarethey?WeknowthattheAfikomanisapieceofmatzahthatweeatto :שלחערוcommemoratetheKorbanPesach.Whataretherules?Solet’slookatthe 8 . שולחערואורחחייסימתעז סעיא לאחרגמרכלהסעודהאוכליממצההשמורהתחתהמפה א( <א) א > כזית ב( ) כלאחד , זכרלפסחהנאכל )ג( עלהשובע ד(, ) ויאכלנובהסיבה ה( ) ולאיברעליו , ו*( )[א *] ויהאזהירלאכלוקודחצות .( ויקדי עצמו )ז( שגההלליקראקודחצות )( "ר פ "ע' פוסופ" בדמגילה ). Thereareactuallyanumberofhalachosmentionedhere.Mostofthemhavetodowith andyouhavetoeatitwhileleaning.Butמצהשמורהmatzahingeneral–ithastobe what’sspecifictotheAfikoman?Reallytwopoints–oneofwhichisconnectedtothe nexthalacha.Solet’sworkfromtheend.Isthereatimebywhichyouhavetofinish? Yes–ithastobeeatenbymidnight.Let’scallthatrule#1.Inwhatstatedoesithaveto .attheendofthemeal–whenyou’realreadyfull–עלהשובעbeeaten?Ithastobeeaten Let’scallthatrule#2.Whichdovetailswiththenexthalacha. 9 . שולחערואורחחייסימתעחסעיא <א > אחראפיקומ א( ) אאילאכול ב( ) שודבר . הגה )ג:( ולאיאכלנו ד( ) בבשנימקומות ה(, ) דלאעדי מאלוהפסיקבשינהדאסורלאכלומשודהויכשנ ימקומות( טור ).

6 Don’teatanythingaftertheAfikoman.AswealreadysawintheRambam–the Afikomanhastobetheverylastthingyoueatatyourseder.Whichisreallyjusttheflip sideofwhatwe’vealreadycalledrule#2.Makesureyou’refullwhenyoueatthe Afikoman.Ifyoueatanythingsubsequenttoit,thatwouldindicateyou’restillhungry .עלהשובעandtheAfikomanwaseaten Let’sjusttraceitback.Wheredoweknowthisfrom?It’sa. 10 . משנהמסכתפסחיפרקימשנהח אימפטיריא חרהפסחאפיקומ . Wemaynotconcludethesedermeal,aftereatingthePesachoffering,withAfikoman. It’sactuallyaverycrypticline.Whatdoesitmean?What’stheAfikoman?Justwhatisit thatwearenotpermittedtodofollowingthePesach? It’snotjustourquestion–it’stheveryfirstthingthegemarawantstoknow.It’sa .מחלוקת 11 . תלמודבבלימסכתפסחידקיטעמודב מאיאפיקומ ? אמררב : שלאיעקרומחבורהלחבורה . ושמואלאמר : כגואורדילאיליוגוזלייאלאבא . Whatismeantbytheterm Afikoman ?Ravsaid:ItmeansthataftereatingthePesach, peopleshouldnotuprootthemselvesfromtheirgrouptojoinanothergroup.Shmuelsaid: ItmeansthataftereatingthePesach,theyshouldnoteatdessertssuchasmushroomsfor meoryoungpigeonsforAbba[Rav]. Twoopinions.Eitherthemishnaistellingusthatwe’renotsupposedtoleaveourseder andheadtoanotherone.OrasShmuelexplains,maybeitmeansthatweshouldn’teat dessert–weshouldn’teatanythingatallafterthemealisover. [Now–asanaside,you’llnoticethatAfikomaninthegemaraisareferencetothething we’renotsupposedtoeat.Afterthemealisover,don’thaveordon’tdoAfikoman.We’ll aresensitivetoערוהשולחandפרימגדיhavetoconsultwiththehistorians–andboththe this–butsomewherealongthelinewemadeaswitchandstartedusingtheterm Afikomantorefertotheverylastthingweeatatthemeal.Howandwhythatiswe’ll havetoleaveforanothertime,butforourpurposeswe’llremainquitecontenttouse Afikomaninthecolloquialsensetomeantheverylastthingweeatattheseder–there’s nosubsequentcourseandthere’snomovingontoaftersederparty.] Itseemslikethehalachaisinaccordancewithwhom?WithShmuel.Nodessertafterthe Afikoman.JustkeepRav’sopinioninthebackofyourmind–thenotionofstayingput– we’llreturntoitsoon. Rule#1:Eatitbeforemidnight; Rule#2:Makesureit’seatenwhileyou’refull–don’teatanythingafterit; Rule#3:

7 12 . שול חערואורחחייסימתעחסעיב מישיש )ו( בתוהסעודהוהקי )ז(, גאינוחוזרלאכול . בניחבורהשישנומקצתבתוהסעודה ח(, ) חוזריואוכלי . נרדמוכול , ונעורו , לאיאכלו .*(ט ) דנתנמנמוכול , יאכלו . הגה : וכלזהאינואלאשישנו לאחרשהתחילולאכולהאפיקומ )י(, אבלשינהקודלזה( יא ) הלאהויהפסק( טורורבינוירוח ). Ifyoufallasleep–you’reout. 13.TheRav:TheWorldofRabbiJosephB.Soloveitchik,RabbiDr.Aaron RakeffetRothkoff,pg.276

Ifyoulookatthenextsource,you’llseethere’sonemorepracticethatwehaven’ttalked about.

8 14.ANighttoRemember:TheHaggadahofContemporaryVoices,Noamand MishaelZion

Now–manyofyoumayhavepracticessimilartotheonedescribedhere.Ifyouactually haveamatchinggiftpolicy,andarestilllookingforaworthycausetowhichto contribute,I’llbehappytoputyouintouchwiththetreasurerofTheJewishCenter. Surprisingly,though,youwon’tactuallyfindthisminhagintheRambamortheShulchan Aruch,butholdthatthoughtinthebackofyourhead.Anythoroughdiscussionofthe Afikomanatsomepointsurelyhastoanswerthequestionofwhythere’salways someonetryingtostealtheAfikomanandwhywe’realwayssokeenongettingitback. We’llreturntothatalittlelater. Solet’sseeifwecanusethesehalachosasourclues: 1. Finisheatingyourlastmatzahbeforemidnight.Why? 2. Don’teatanythingfollowingtheAfikoman–andwe’llsayparentheticallythat wepreservethesecondopinionofthegemara,too–don’tgoanywhere.Why? 3. Andfinally,ifyou’vefallenasleep,you’velostyouropportunitytoeatthe Afikoman.What’stheproblemifyou’vefallenasleep? Let’sgobacktotheHaggadahandthenwe’lltietogethertheotherhalachos.Wenow means.Eitherwedon’tleavethesederorwedon’tאימפטיריאחרהפסחאפיקומknowwhat eatanythingfollowingtheKorbanPesach.Butwhynot?

9 SomehavesuggestedthatAfikomanderivesfromtheGreekword komos –whichwasa kindofdrunkenprocessionthatwasoftenaccompaniedbydebauchery.It’sattestedtoin thefinalsceneofPlato’sSymposium.Allsevenofthephilosophershavesaidtheirpiece onthetopicoflove. 15.Plato’sSymposium,FinalScene Agathon arose in order that he might take his place on the couch by Socrates, when suddenly a band of revelers entered, and spoiled the order of the banquet. Some one who was going out having left the door open, they had found their way in, and made themselves at home; great confusion ensued, and every one was compelled to drink large quantities of wine. Ononelevel,wewanttoelevateourselvesaboveaculturethatpromotesthenotionofan afterparty.ButIwouldsuggestthere’ssomethingmuchmoregoingonhere.It’snotjust thatwewanttoseparateourselvesfromtheGreeks.We’redemonstratingsomething .אימפטיריquiteprofoundbyadheringtotheethicof ThefollowingRashiisthemostimportantsourceIwanttosharewithyouthismorning. 16 . רש" ימסכתפסחידפועמודא אימפטירי כשהגיעזמ נולהפטרמהסעודה , דהיינואחרהפסחשהואנאכלבאחרונהעלהשבע ... למשחה לגדולה , כדרשהמלכיאוכלי , אינפטריעלידיאפיקומ . TheanswertoourriddleissolvedbynoneotherthanRashi.FollowthesimpleTalmudic math:OurmatzahthatweeatastheAfikomantakestheplaceoftheKorbanPesach.The KorbanPesachhadtobeconsumedonafullstomachattheveryendofthemeal.Thus, ourmatzah–ourAfikomanhastolikewisebetheverylastfoodeatenatthemeal.Why– becausethisisthepracticeofkingsandnobleman. 17 . במדברפרקיחפסוקח וידבריקוקאלאהרואניהנהנתתילאתמשמרתתרומתילכלקדשיבניישראללנתתילמשחהולבני לחקעול : 18 . תורהתמימהבמדברפרקיחפסוקח לנתתילמשחה "א רחסדאמתנותכהונהאינאכלותאלאצליואינאכל ותאלאבחרדל , דאמרקרא למשחה לגדולה , כדרשהמלכיאוכלי[ חוליקל" ]:'בב TwoopinionsaboutthenotionofAfikoman.Eitheritmeansthatwedon’tleaveafterthe mealoritmeansthatwedon’teatanythingfollowing.Iwouldsubmittoyouthatboth RavandShmuelarereallysayingthesamething:TheAfikomanisallabout demonstratingthatonSedernightwe’rekings!Theonlyquestionishowtogoaboutit. AccordingtoRav,theprinciplewaytoshowmalchusistoremaininoneplace–rather thanactinglikeGreekrevelers.AccoringtoShmuel,that’snotenough–it’salso importanttodemonstratethatyou’veeatenyourfillandarecompletelysated–justlikea king. TheRambamreallysaysittoo.

10 19 . פירושהמשנהלרמב" מסכתפסחיפרקי וחייבוהו לאכולכשהואמיסב כדרשאוכליהמלכיוהגדולי . כדישיהיהדרחרות . YouhavetoreclinewhenyoueattheAfikomanbecausethat’sthepracticeofkingsand noblemen. Everyyearitseemswegetcaughtupinthesamevocabularyofslaveryandfreedom; bondageandliberation.WhatIwouldargueisthatatthesederwe’recelebrating somethingmuchricherandsomethingmuchmoreprofound.It’snotjustaboutthemove it’snotjustaboutgoingfromservitudetofreedom.It’saboutgoing–חרותtoעבדותfrom Worldhistoryisfilledwithnarrativesofindividualsornationsthat!מלכותtoעבדותfrom haveemergedfromslaverytoliberation.UniquetoJudaismisahistorythatboastsa movefromslaverytoroyalty. :squestion’חכThisistheanswertothe מההעד תוהחקיוהמשפטיאשרצוהיקוקאלהינואתכ ? Whoneedsalltheseextracommandments?Whydoweneedallthesemitzvos?Who needsJudasim?WhybeJewish? It’sallaboutroyalty.Weembrace606more.אימפטיריאחרהפסחאפיקומTheansweris mitzvosthananyothernationbecauseit’sthesemitzvosthathavethecapacitytoelevate ustothestatusofkingsandqueens. OurgoalonsedernightistotransmittoourchildrenaselfperceptionofJudaismthat makesitattractiveandcompelling.Sowetellourchildren–andremindourselvesinthe process–thatinourliveswe’renotbucklingundertheburdenofobligationsthatneedto bedischarged.Ourmitzvosdon’tweighusdown.Theyliftusup.Ourmitzvosaren’t encumbrances;they’reopportunitiesforgreatness. Onanyotherday.חכThat’swhyonsedernightweforgotheTorah’sownanswertothe oftheyear,theTorah’sanswerissufficient.TellthestoryoftheJewishpeopleandyour childwillunderstandthepastofhisfamilyandhisnation.ButonSedernight,we’renot satisfiedwiththisalone.FortheauthoroftheHaggadahwantsustomakethesedernot justaboutthelegacyJewishhistory,butabouttheopportunityofJewishdestiny. Withsomuchprivilege,though,comesattendantresponsibility.It’strue.Eachofusisa princeoraprincess.Likeroyalty,eachofushasanalmostunlimitedcapacitytobe relevantactorsontheworld’sstage.Butrightalongsidethisexceptionalnotionaretwo equallyimportantmessages: • Remember:WehavetofinishtheAfikomanbeforemidnight.Ourtimeisours; we’rekings;theworldisouroyster.Butdon’tfallintothetrapofthinkingthat timeisunlimited.Theclockisticking.AsaJewishpeople,wehaveamission– andweneedtouseourtimetoaccomplishit. • Andsimilarly,assoonaswefallasleep–assoonaswelosesightofourmission, weneedtokeepoursights–הסחהדעתweloseeverything.Wecan’thavea closelytrainedonthetaskathand.Akorbanthat’sforgottenaboutorleft

11 unattendedisnolongerakorban.Alltheconsciousnessthatwentintoits sanctificationislost.Wehavetomaintainourattachmentandourinvestment. Hencetheevolutionofthepracticetostealtheafikoman.Someonemustalwaysbe lookingoutforit–thinkingaboutit–searchingforit.Whatbetterwaytodemonstrate howpreciousitistous. We’veunraveledthemystery.Weunderstandtheprofundityoftheanswerwegivetothe cleverchild.Butbeforewewrapthingsupthismorning,gobackforamomenttosource #2.Therewillcomeatime,theTorahsays,whenitwon’tbeobvioustoyourchild. .מחר?Whenisit?Whenwillthisconversationtakeplace?Whenwillthattimebe IwanttolearnaRashiwithyou: 20 . רש" ישמותפרקיגפסוקיד כיישאלבנ מחר ישמחרשהואעכשיו , וישמחרשהואלאחרזמ מחרIlovethisRashi.It’ssoprofound.Therearetwotypesoftomorrow.Sometimes referstoapointinthedistantמחרreallymeanstomorrow.It’srightnow.Butsometimes The?צדיקisnottheרשעfuture.Isn’titfascinatingtonoticethattheoppositeofthe Haggadahtellsushe’sbright,butitneversayshe’srighteous.I’mactuallynotso convincedjusthowrighteousheis.AsRashisays,theTorahherereferstoatimewayin thefuture–whenitwon’tbeobvioustothiscleverchildwhywe’reJewish.Inthe aftermathoftheExodus,inagenerationthatwitnessedGod’ssalvationfirsthandor heardaboutitfromtheirparents,it’seasytomakethecaseforJudaism. Butitwon’talwaysbeso.I’mnotsayingthischild’sanapostate.ButIdon’treadhis isthathe’sinquisitiveandחכquestiontobesuchaninnocentone.Myreadingofthe intellectuallyhonest.He’llbesatisfiedandhe’llkeepthefaith–aslongastheanswer yougivehimiscompelling. Thefollowingcartoonissorevealing.

12 21.ANighttoRemember:TheHaggadahofContemporaryVoices,Noamand MishaelZion

istoday.GotoacollegecampusandaskastudentwhyheorsheshouldמחרTheTorah’s loveIsraelmorethanPalestine.Askherwhysheshouldbemoresympathetictowarda selfreliantIsraelithananimpoverishedPalestinian?AskateenagerinJewishdayschool whytheyprefertobeJewishratherthanChristianorMuslim.Askabarboywhy hewantstolivebythevaluesofanancientTorahratherthanthevaluespromotedby contemporarysociety? squestionhasneverbeenmorepoignantthaninour’חכItmaybetruethatthe generation.Butitisequallytruethatneverbeforehasouranswerbeenmorecompelling. We’vereachedamomentalongthegreatchainofJewishhistoryinwhichtheanswersto themostbasicquestionsaren’tobviousanymore.Sowhentheyask–andtheysurelywill –whybeJewish,we’dbetterhaveapowerfulandpersuasiveresponseattheready. TheHaggadahfurnishesuswithjustsuchananswer. אימפטיריאחרהפסחאפיקומ. Onsedernightweactlikekingsbecausewehavethecapacitytobekings.Neitherdowe engageintherevelryofcommoners,nordoweremainhungrybymeal’send.Aswe togglebackandforthbetweenidentitiesofliberationandslaveryattheseder,knownot onlythatit’sourslaverythat’stheaberration.Butknowtoothatwearemuchmorethan

13 freemenandwomen.Wewerefreedfromslaverynotsimplytobefree,butratherto We’reGod’streasuredpeople–adynastyofkingsand.ממלכתכהניוגויקדושbecomea princes:Notbecauseofourpedigreebutbecausewe’reprivilegedtobethebearersofan extraordinarymesorah. Whatamessagetoinstillinouryoungergeneration.Actasthoughyou’redestinedfor greatness.Believeyou’redestinedforgreatness.Andgreatnesswillbecomeyou.

14