Ceremony and Celebration Family Edition, The Hagim, Pesah, Ha Lahma Anya, Further Thoughts
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This is the beginning of the Seder narrative, known as Maggid, from the word “haggada,” “relate,” “recount,” “declare,” “proclaim.” The story of the Exodus is known as the Haggada because of the verse “You shall tell (vehigadeta) your child on that day, ‘[I do this] because of what the Lord did for me when I went out of Egypt’” (Shemot 13:8). However, the word “haggada” derives from a verb that also means “bind,” “join,” “connect.” The story of the Exodus is more than a recounting (sipur) of things that happened long ago. It binds the present to the past and future. It connects one generation to the next. It joins us to our children. Jewish continuity means that each successive generation commits itself to continuing the story. Our past lives on in us.
☛ REFLECT Do you feel more connected to your parents and grandparents when you sit at the Seder table? Why do you think that is?
QUESTIONS TO ASK AT YOUR SEDER
1.Why is it important to share your Seder table with people from outside your close family?
- Does matza represent freedom or slavery to you?
- How does Seder night connect you to other Jews?