What is the purpose of the Maror which we eat? It is because the Egyptians embittered the lives of our ancestors in Egypt. Unlike Matzah and the Pesach offering, the reason we eat the Maror seems negative. Matzah and Maror are symbols of Israel’s redemption while the Maror is a symbol of slavery and subjugation. We remember the other two symbols as a way of giving thanks to God for our redemption but why do we bother making mention of the Maror? Why do we recall the bitter herbs? There is reason to give thanks even for the bitterness of the Maror. Originally the subjugation of Israel was supposed to last four hundred years, but the oppression by the Egyptians was so bitter that the enslavement was shortened to only 210 years. Therefore, had Israel’s subjugation not been so bitter, it would have lasted longer! (The commentator, Rashi, discusses the mathematics of Israel’s sojourn in Egypt in his comments on Exodus 12:41.) This is hinted at in the trop for the words “Vayimariru et hayeahem,” “(the Egyptians) embittered their lives.” The musical trop notes on these words are “Kadma V’azla” which can literally be translated, “they were early and went forth.” Because their lives were so bitter, the Israelites were able to go forth early from Egypt.