Thoughts of Pesach and Peoplehood

Throughout the generations people have defined and redefined the “wicked” child at the seder. I think an interesting question to pose at the seder is – who or what would be the contemporary “wicked” member of our people: Someone who is still at the seder, who we still speak with, even though they really make declarations rather than asking questions. (Take a careful look at the various verses used as proof texts for each of the sons.)

A flip side of the same thought process is, when we say “Elu V’elu divrie Elokim Chaim” (“Both these and these are the living words of God): In our opinion, whose is the OTHER opinion we deem appropriate, or legitimate – even though we disagree? It seems that the definition of the legitimate “other” has become increasingly narrow.

What are the contours of the Jewish community with which we feel comfortable? Whom are we vilifying? Who threatens and scares us? Who do we see as a legitimate other voice?

Pesach is about peoplehood, the formation of a nation. Have we written off some of our people too easily? Do we think they do not have a legitimate voice? Do we see them as “wicked”?

These are some of the questions I would like to raise at the seder. I am not looking for answers, just raising some questions.

Passover 5775 Becoming a Nation

Sources for 21 Pesach Shiurim:

Sources for 21 Pesach Shiurim:

הלילה הזה כולו צלי

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_56.html

חד גדיה

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_23.html

"From Arami Oved Avi to Chad Gadya - a mystical journey led by the Vilna Gaon"

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/fromarami-oved-avi-to-chad-gadya.html

המצה של לוט

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_26.html

אין ביעור חמץ אלא שריפה

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_7.html

אלו קרבנו לפני הר סיני ולא נתן לנו את התורה דייני

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_4.html

ארבע כוסות

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_90.html

פסח – הלכה, מנהג, וחומרה

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_40.html

חייב אדם לעסוק בהלכות הפסח כל הלילה

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_30.html

חישב את הקץ

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_91.html

חרוסת

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_9.html

כנגד ארבע בנים  

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_34.html

מַצָּה זוּ שֶׁאָנוּ אוֹכְלִים עַל שׁוּם מָה. עַל שׁוּם מה? -לֶחֶם עֹנִי

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_44.html

מכירת חמץ

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_99.html

מתחיל בגנות ומסיים בשבח

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_3.html

(פֶּסַח,) מַצָּה, (וּמָרוֹר)

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_16.html

קטנית

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_74.html

חג הפסח עד חצות

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_31.html

שיר השירים עם ברכה

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_54.html

ערב תבשילין, קיטניות וחמץ - הבט הלכתי ומחשבתי

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_29.html

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה זכירת וסיפור יציאת מצרים

http://mishkanetrog.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/blog-post_27.html

Parshat Tzav 5775 Chametz and Matzah

Audio and Essays Parashat Tzav

Audio and Essays Parashat Tzav

New Essay: Chametz and Matzah

http://arikahn.blogspot.co.il/2015/03/parshat-tzav-5775-chametz-and-matzah.html

Audio:

Purifying The Mind

http://rabbiarikahn.com/audio?id=327

Preparing for Holiness

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/810401/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/Preparing_for_Holiness

No Hesitation

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/758658/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/No_Hesitation

Essays:

No Hesitation

http://arikahn.blogspot.co.il/2010/03/parshat-tzav-5770-no-hesitation.html

Of Matzot and Mitzvot

http://arikahn.blogspot.co.il/2009/03/parshat-tzav-shabbat-hagadol-5769.html

Thoughts of Sin

http://rabbiarikahn.com/writing?id=123

Parashat Tzav 5774 Impetuousness

http://rabbiarikahn.com/pdf/parashat_tzav_5774_impetuousness.pdf

YUTorah Online - Rabbi Ari Kahn

YUTorah Online - Rabbi Ari Kahn

Torah for Pesach

Torah for Pesach

Lectures and Essays for Pesach and the Omer

Lectures:

Transcending Time

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/791150/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/Transcending_Time

Torah Readings for Pesach
http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/811555/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/Torah_Readings_for_Pesach

The Evolving Haggada 

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/811551/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/The_Evolving_Haggada

Crossing the Sea; a people divided

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/788832/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/Crossing_the_Sea;_a_people_divided

The wickedness of the wicked son; a textual analysis

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/788592/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/The_wickedness_of_the_wicked_son;_a_textual_analysis

Parshat Bshalach According to the Vilna Gaon

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/771877/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/Parshat_Bshalach_According_to_the_Vilna_Gaon

Parshat Bo - Did Leaving Egypt Include Deception?

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/768778/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/Parshat_Bo_-_Did_Leaving_Egypt_Include_Deception

Rebbi Yehuda gave Simanim

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/768261/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/Rebbi_Yehuda_gave_Simanim

Around Midnight

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/768265/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/Around_Midnight

The Plague of "Frogs" and Kiddush Hashem

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/768099/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/The_Plague_of_'Frogs'_and_Kiddush_Hashem_

The Haftorah for Vaera - the exile of Knowledge

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/768102/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/The_Haftorah_for_Vaera_-_the_exile_of_Knowledge

The Four Expression of Redemption and the Brit Bein Habitarim

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/768103/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/The_four_Expression_of_Redemption_and_the_Brit_Bein_Habitarim

The Omer - Linking Pesach and Shavuot

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/760375/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/The_Omer_-_Linking_Pesach_and_Shavuot

Pesach - Four Sons - Four Questions

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/759364/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/Pesach_-_Four_Sons_-_Four_Questions

Pesach matzah maror; biblical antecedents.

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/759366/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/Pesach_matzah_maror;_biblical_antecedents

The Redeemers

Those who helped the Jews leave Egypt - including the righteous women and Moshe.

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/827056/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/The_Redeemers

Miracles and Song

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/828113/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/Miracles_and_Song

Eclipsing the Sun God

The political and theological significance of the plagues

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/827720/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/Eclipsing_the_Sun_God

The Moment of Freedom

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/827736/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/The_Moment_of_Freedom

Kitavo -bikurim and history

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/748187/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/Kitavo_-bikurim_and_history

The Idea of Counting

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/774309/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/The_Idea_of_Counting

The Exodus and Elusive Perfection

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/768101/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/The_Exodus_and_Elusive_Perfection#

The Leadership Of Moshe

http://rabbiarikahn.com/audio?id=394

Shmot - a Brief Overview What Is FREEDOM

http://rabbiarikahn.com/audio?id=404

Parshat Shmot / A Sign Of Redemption

http://rabbiarikahn.com/audio?id=541

Knowledge In Exile

http://rabbiarikahn.com/audio?id=366

The Staff

http://rabbiarikahn.com/audio?id=400

Parshat Vaeira / Deserving Freedom (Why did things need to get worse before they got better - before leaving Egypt. The Role of Am Yisrael in the Exodus)

http://rabbiarikahn.com/audio?id=543

Parshat Bo / Polemic Against Egyptian Beliefs

http://rabbiarikahn.com/audio?id=375

Parshat Bo / Transcending Time Space And Matter

http://rabbiarikahn.com/audio?id=401

Parshat Beshalach / Pharaoh's Responses to the Plagues

http://rabbiarikahn.com/audio?id=545

Did we Leave Egypt too Soon

http://rabbiarikahn.com/audio?id=35

Matzah of Lot

http://rabbiarikahn.com/audio?id=38

Seder Night

http://rabbiarikahn.com/audio?id=46

Shira

http://rabbiarikahn.com/audio?id=47

Losing Our Religion

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/827422/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/Losing_Our_Religion

Parshat Hachodesh

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/759365/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/tazria-Parshat_Hachodesh

Pesach

http://rabbiarikahn.com/audio?id=44

Stringencies on Pesach (good or bad?)

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/759080/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/Stringencies_on_Pesach_(good_or_bad)

Sale of Chametz - "Legal Fiction"?

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/773777/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/Sale_of_Chametz_-_'Legal_Fiction'

Mourning of the Omer

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/760367/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/Mourning_of_the_Omer

The Law of Chadosh in the Diaspora

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/752069/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/The_Law_of_Chadosh_in_the_Diaspora

One or two days Yom Tov for visitors to Israel?

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/748708/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/one_or_two_days_Yom_Tov_for_visitors_to_Israel

Chametz (not) fit for man and dog

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/811164/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/%D7%97%D7%9E%D7%A5_%D7%A9%D7%90%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%94_%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%95%D7%99%D7%94_%D7%9C%D7%90%D7%A0%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%9D_%D7%95%D7%9B%D7%9C%D7%91%D7%99%D7%9D

חייב אדם לעסוק בהלכות הפסח כל הלילה

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/791351/Rabbi_Ari_Kahn/%D7%97%D7%99%D7%99%D7%91_%D7%90%D7%93%D7%9D_%D7%9C%D7%A2%D7%A1%D7%95%D7%A7_%D7%91%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%94%D7%A4%D7%A1%D7%97_%D7%9B%D7%9C_%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%94

Essays

Of Matzot and Mitzvot

http://www.aish.com/tp/i/moha/48965136.html

Shabbat HaGadol

http://www.aish.com/tp/i/moha/48942426.html

Collecting Straw

http://arikahn.blogspot.co.il/2010/01/parshat-shmot-5770-collecting-straw.html

The Fifth Cup

http://arikahn.blogspot.co.il/2010/01/parshat-vaera-5770-fifth-cup.html

Frogs

http://arikahn.blogspot.co.il/2009/01/vaera-5769-frogs.html

Pharaoh's Heart

http://www.aish.com/tp/i/moha/48937417.html

Around Midnight

http://www.aish.com/tp/i/moha/Around-Midnight.html

Time for Freedom

http://www.aish.com/tp/i/moha/48910302.html

The First Born

http://www.aish.com/tp/i/moha/48937697.html

Rabbi Yehuda gave them Signs

http://arikahn.blogspot.co.il/2009/01/parshat-bo-5769-rav-yehuda-gave-them.html

The Eleventh Plague

http://www.aish.com/tp/i/moha/48960031.html

The Wicked Son in the Passover Haggadah

 http://arikahn.blogspot.co.il/2009/04/wicked-son-in-passover-haggadah.html

A New Book, An Old Story - Parshat Shmot

http://echoesofeden.rabbiarikahn.com/pdf/parashat_shmot_a_new_book_an_old_story

Pharaoh's Conundrum - Parshat VaEra

http://echoesofeden.rabbiarikahn.com/pdf/parashat_vaera_5774_pharaohs_conundrum

  

The Dignity of Mitzvot - Parshat Bo

http://echoesofeden.rabbiarikahn.com/pdf/parashat_bo_5774_the_dignity_of_mitzvot

The Long Shortcut - Parshat B'Shalach

http://echoesofeden.rabbiarikahn.com/pdf/parashat_bshalach_the_long_shortcut

Parashat B'shalach - Winds of Salvation

http://arikahn.blogspot.co.il/2015/01/parashat-bshalach-winds-of-salvation.html

Parashat Shmot 5775 Redemption Song

http://arikahn.blogspot.co.il/2015/01/parashat-shmot-5775-redemption-song.html

Parashat Bo 5775 It’s the Children

http://arikahn.blogspot.co.il/2015/01/parashat-bo-5775-its-children.html

Haggadah based on the teachings of Rav Soloveitchik

http://www.slideshare.net/arikahn1/ss-17375163

Regarding Chametz and Kitniot in Israel on Shabbat Isru Chag

http://arikahn.blogspot.co.il/2012/04/regarding-chametz-and-kitniot-in-israel.html