The 4 cups

Last night, I went to my first real-live seder (which is the meal shared on the first two nights of Passover). When we were younger, my family sort of did seder-lite - we had kids' Haggadahs that we used to use for the seder. I think my dad sold it a little short when we talked about it recently - it seems to me that we pretty much hit all the high points of a seder.

In any case, what I experienced last night was still very, very different. And it leads nicely into the first mitzvah that I'd like to look at.


Type of Commandment: Times and Seasons - it's # 125 on the list

Commandment: "To discuss the departure from Egypt on the first night of Passover"

Where does it come from: Exodus 13:8 - in my study bible, the verse reads: "On that day tell your son, 'I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt'" - so the reference is not exactly as it's written in the list - although that could be because I'm using a Christian bible? Or maybe this particular mitzvah comes from a Talmudic discussion of the verse? Anyways.....

How might you follow this?: This question is pretty easy, I think. Er, probably as straightforward as it gets... You get a Haggadah and some friends and a LOT of wine and some great food and you talk through the story in the Haggadah!

Why might this have been commanded in the first place?: I think there are a few answers to this question:

• I think part of it is right in the verse. You do it because of what God did for me when I came out of Egypt. Something I learned (mostly last night, but I think I've come across it elsewhere too) is that you discuss the exodus in experiential terms. Like YOU were a slave in Egypt and God brought YOU out of slavery and now YOU are free. Everyone at the seder is supposed to be like a king - you don't pour your own wine, you lean when you drink the wine and eat the matzah and you rest on a pillow on your chair. 
• I think there might also be some part of it to remember how God "dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how [He] performed [His] signs among them" (there was a reference to Exodus 10:2 in my bible's study notes, where that comes from). I'd say it's fair that part of the seder is to appreciate the things that God did for our ancestors in Egypt to take us out of slavery. Another cool thing about that, though, is that while the seder means for us to appreciate what was done for us, it also acknowledges that innocent Egyptians were harmed by the plagues that were sent to take the Jews out of slavery. 
• The notes actually point me to one more place: in Psalm 78:5-6, it says "He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children", which I think points to a pretty common theme in Jewish thought (at least modern Jewish thought, in my estimation). It's talking about Jewish continuity. I sure as heck am not going to touch that one with a ten foot pole right now because it's way too complex. But I think that's in there too. 

What are some benefits to following this today?: Well, firstly, it is a way cool night to experience. I really enjoyed discussing the exodus and I learned so, so much. My kind hosts knew so much (he happens to be a Masters student in religious studies) and shared so much knowledge with the rest of us. I almost wish I could replay the night so I could remember all the stuff they shared with me. I'm really grateful for all the way cool stuff I learned. Another benefit is that any night when you are religiously required to drink (chug, actually) four full cups of wine (as in "my cup overfloweth" - literally), is bound to turn into a super fun evening, no?

What are some drawbacks to following this today?: I would say that the only drawback that I can think of right now is that it is a pretty big practical undertaking. Once you cook a meal while being conscious of kosher for passover rules (if you choose to - no leavened bread products, which is even tough to find in Calgary). And then the seder itself is a pretty long process. All that said, I think (and this comes from a guest, not a host of the seder so I can't speak to the work that it takes) it's totally worth it. I, at least, had a great time.

All said, I don't see a problem with this particular commandment. People celebrate Christmas without thinking twice - and people seem to generally be OK with pulling that away (to various extents) from the original religious significance. Same with Easter - a chocolate egg hunt has little to nothing (I would suggest) to do with what Easter is really meant to be. In the end, there's nothing wrong with celebrating holidays. Maybe the best thing to do with a Passover Seder is to invite all people to celebrate the holiday and have a great time.

Actually, next weekend a friend from my Birthright trip is hosting a seder - there are going to be three of us from our trip and then a bunch of her non-Jewish friends. I think these kinds of things are probably the way to go. Everyone can celebrate freedom at Passover, and I think all types of people should do so. After all, it's a darn good time! Next time, smaller wine glasses though.

Thanks again to my amazing hosts and the other awesome people I shared the evening with. It was such a great time and I really appreciate it!