PRE-PESACH SECTION
REBBETZIN SHIRA SMILES Faculty, OU Israel Center
Pesach, Matzah, Marror
T
he baal Haggadah quotes Rabban Gamliel who would say, “Whoever does not discuss the following three things on Pesach night has not fulfilled his obligation. They are: Pesach, Matzah, and Marror.” What can these three fundamental ideas teach us as we prepare for Seder night? Further, why does Rabban Gamliel say pesach, matza and marror in this specific order? Shouldn’t marror which represents the bitterness of galut Mitzrayim be stated first, as the difficulties and pain came first? Rav Gedalyah Schorr in Ohr Gedalyahu emphasizes that each of these symbols embody aspects of emunah, an integral component of the Seder experience. Pesach represents the intense Divine Presence that was revealed in Egypt the night of the redemption. The Netziv explains that this
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TORAH TIDBITS / VAYIKRA 5781
revelation was so intense that it caused the death of the Egyptian firstborns. Rav Soloveitchik explains that on Seder night we too experience this ‘gilui shechinah’ and can access it to solidify our emunah each year. Rav Schorr describes matzah as the response to Pesach. If Pesach expresses an intense Divine revelation, matzah expresses “running after the Shechinah”. The Jewish people faithfully followed Hashem to leave Mitzrayim; they did not even have time to let their bread rise. He notes that within each Jew there exists a point of complete dedication to Hashem, a part that is ready to do Hashem’s will without asking questions. This point of deep belief and connection is the matzah within us. It is the part stripped of chametz/ ego that yearns for a spiritual path. Each year, when eating the matzah, we can try to access this part within ourselves and recommit to a life being drawn to the ephemeral and spiritual; a life more deeply
