The Structure of the Seder
Most of us have many divrei Torah on various points in the seder, but since the very name of the meal, "seder", points us to pay attention to its order, I thought I would layout the overall structure, as I see it. We can divide the seder into four parts if we pay attention to when we fill and drink each cup of wine.
I - First Cup (primarily reenacting the initial servitude)
1- Kadeish; 2- Urchatz; 3- Karpas; 4- Yachatz
This proposed structure places Ha Lachma Anya as part of Yachatz. We break the matzah, and discuss the "bread of suffering". The cup is refilled after it, before Mah Nishtanah.
II Second Cup (retelling the story of redemption)
5- Maggid
There are three opinions amongst tana'im about what is required for Maggid. Rav and Shemu'el both say that Maggid should begin with describing the suffering, and end on a happier note. The difference between them is that Rav says that this is on a spiritual level, starting with Bitechilah ovdei avodah zarah -- in the beginning, our ancestors were idolators. Shemu'el says it on a physical level. Avadaim hayinu -- we were slaves, but now we are free. Rabban Gamliel doesn't operate within that model at all. Instead, he requires that Maggid must discuss the three mitzvos of the evening: Pesach, Matzah, and Marror. We include all three haggados in our seder.
a- Introduction
This includes Mah Nishtanah, and Avadim Hayinu (Shemu'el's haggadah). The introduction ends by noting that this mitzvah is retelling the story of the Exodus, beyond the usual requirement to remember it "kol yimei chayecha -- all the days of your life".
Rav Chaim Brisker asks how the mitzvah of retelling the story at the seder differs from the daily requirement to it. The next three sections provide elements that he considers unique to the mitzvah of the night.
b- The obligation to tell the story to others in Q&A format: This includes the four sons through Yachol meiRosh Chodesh.
c- The chain of events: Rav's haggadah -- the spiritual redemption from "Bitechilah", through the plagues, crossing the Red See, and the miracles in the desert.
d- Reasons for the mitzvos of the night: R' Gamli'el's haggadah
Then, after fulfilling the specific retelling of the evening as per Rav Chaim, we conclude with
e- Expressions of praise -- the first part of Hallel
III Third cup (we just retold the story verbally, here we reenact it)
6- Rachtzah; 7- Motzi; 8- Matzah; 9- Maror; 10- Koreich;
11- Shulchan Oreich; 12- Tzafun; 13- Bareich;
IV Fourth cup (now that we were redeemed, we are in a position to praise Hashem)
14- Hallel; 15- Nirtzah
There were 15 semicircular steps up to the last courtyard before the Temple. The levi'im would stand on them and sing. When ascending them for certain ceremonies, they would pause at each step and sing the 15 chapters of Tehillim that begin Shir haMaalos (a song of ascents) or Shir laMa'alos. 15 then is a number by which we sing G-d's praises, and speak of his loftiness. For this reason there are 15 things that Hashem did for us in the Exodus which we count out in Dayeinu -- any one alone would justify the seder night. And there are therefore 15 steps in the seder.
I - First Cup (primarily reenacting the initial servitude)
1- Kadeish; 2- Urchatz; 3- Karpas; 4- Yachatz
This proposed structure places Ha Lachma Anya as part of Yachatz. We break the matzah, and discuss the "bread of suffering". The cup is refilled after it, before Mah Nishtanah.
II Second Cup (retelling the story of redemption)
5- Maggid
There are three opinions amongst tana'im about what is required for Maggid. Rav and Shemu'el both say that Maggid should begin with describing the suffering, and end on a happier note. The difference between them is that Rav says that this is on a spiritual level, starting with Bitechilah ovdei avodah zarah -- in the beginning, our ancestors were idolators. Shemu'el says it on a physical level. Avadaim hayinu -- we were slaves, but now we are free. Rabban Gamliel doesn't operate within that model at all. Instead, he requires that Maggid must discuss the three mitzvos of the evening: Pesach, Matzah, and Marror. We include all three haggados in our seder.
a- Introduction
This includes Mah Nishtanah, and Avadim Hayinu (Shemu'el's haggadah). The introduction ends by noting that this mitzvah is retelling the story of the Exodus, beyond the usual requirement to remember it "kol yimei chayecha -- all the days of your life".
Rav Chaim Brisker asks how the mitzvah of retelling the story at the seder differs from the daily requirement to it. The next three sections provide elements that he considers unique to the mitzvah of the night.
b- The obligation to tell the story to others in Q&A format: This includes the four sons through Yachol meiRosh Chodesh.
c- The chain of events: Rav's haggadah -- the spiritual redemption from "Bitechilah", through the plagues, crossing the Red See, and the miracles in the desert.
d- Reasons for the mitzvos of the night: R' Gamli'el's haggadah
Then, after fulfilling the specific retelling of the evening as per Rav Chaim, we conclude with
e- Expressions of praise -- the first part of Hallel
III Third cup (we just retold the story verbally, here we reenact it)
6- Rachtzah; 7- Motzi; 8- Matzah; 9- Maror; 10- Koreich;
11- Shulchan Oreich; 12- Tzafun; 13- Bareich;
IV Fourth cup (now that we were redeemed, we are in a position to praise Hashem)
14- Hallel; 15- Nirtzah
There were 15 semicircular steps up to the last courtyard before the Temple. The levi'im would stand on them and sing. When ascending them for certain ceremonies, they would pause at each step and sing the 15 chapters of Tehillim that begin Shir haMaalos (a song of ascents) or Shir laMa'alos. 15 then is a number by which we sing G-d's praises, and speak of his loftiness. For this reason there are 15 things that Hashem did for us in the Exodus which we count out in Dayeinu -- any one alone would justify the seder night. And there are therefore 15 steps in the seder.
posted by micha @ 4/11/2006 10:15:00 PM
