​Parashat Bo, 5785, 2025: "Remember and Recount the Exodus from Egypt"

 
ה' יעזור וירחם על אחינו כל בני ישראל בארץ ישראל ובכל חלקי הארץ
 
The essence of the Pesach Seder experience is the mitzvah of Sippur Yetziat Mitzrayim, the recounting of the story of the Departure from Egypt. The 13th century anonymous author of the Sefer HaChinuch begins his discussion of this commandment with these words:

The commandment to recount the exodus from Egypt: To tell about the Exodus from Egypt on the night of the fifteenth of Nissan—each person according to his own power of expression—to laud and to praise Hashem, may He be blessed, for all the miracles He performed for us there, as it is stated, “And you shall tell your son--v’he’gaddatah l’vinchah…” (Sefer Shemot 13:8, translation with my emendations, https://www.sefaria.org/Sefer_HaChinukh.21.1?lang=bi)
 
The Sefer HaChinuch generally follows the approach of the Rambam (Maimonides, 1135-1204) in his presentation of the mitzvot. When we examine the introductory words in the Mishneh Torah concerning our mitzvah, however, we find that the Rambam utilizes a different proof text:

It is a positive commandment of the Torah to relate the miracles and wonders wrought for our ancestors in Egypt on the night of the fifteenth of Nisan, as the Torah states: “Remember this day, on which you left Egypt--zachor et hayom hazeh asher y’tzatem m’mitzrayim” (Sefer Shemot 13:3) just as it states: “Remember the Sabbath day.” (Sefer Shemot 20:8, Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Chametz u’Matzah 7:1, translation, Rabbi Eliyahu Touger with my emendations)
 
The Sefer HaChinuch’s citation of “v’he’gaddatah l’vinchah” as the source for Sippur Yetziat Mitzrayim is in congruence with the position of nearly every commentator on the Taryag Mitzvot; if so, why does the Rambam cite “zachor et hayom hazeh asher y’tzatem m’mitzrayim” as his proof text? This question is particularly apropos, because the Rambam did adopt v’he’gaddatah l’vinchah as his source for the mitzvah of Sippur Yetziat Mitzrayim in Sefer HaMitzvot (Positive Commandment 157).
 
In his exploration of this topic entitled, “The Conjunction of Sippur and Zechirat Mitzrayim,” Rabbi Michael Rosensweig, rosh hayeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, suggests the following answer to our question:

The Rambam's carefully crafted articulation of the mitzvah of sippur yetziat mitzrayim subtly, yet artfully, conveys that the singular focus of the actual night of Pesach is further enhanced by its wide and pervasive impact, as expressed in daily zechirat mitzrayim…it is the ubiquitous zechirah…that determines sippur’s ultimate significance even as a concrete commemoration of the historical event of the Exodus. (www.Torahweb.org)
 
Rav Rosensweig further elaborates on the symbiotic relationship that obtains between sippur and zechirat mitzrayim:

Thus, zechirat yetziat mitzrayim and sippur yetziat mitzrayim are mutually enhancing, even mutually dependent. Without the detailed, intense and more concrete sippur practiced once a year, the more amorphous and abstract zechirah would be compromised; absent the continuous outlet and impact provided by daily zechirah, the anniversary of the Exodus would be nothing more than a nostalgic memory.
 
Rabbi Rosensweig provides deep insight into the inextricable relationship that obtains between Zechirat Yetziat Mitzrayim and Sippur Yetziat Mitzrayim. Each informs the other. Neither could reach their full potential without the powerful light of the other shining upon it.
 
May we be zocheh to intensify our focus on the significance of Zechirat Yetziat Mitzrayim in our daily tefilot, and may we infuse our Sippur Yetziat Mitzrayim with new and dynamic meaning. V’chane yihi ratzon.
 
Shabbat Shalom
​
Past drashot may be found at my blog-website: http://reparashathashavuah.org
 
The email list, b’chasdei Hashem, has expanded to hundreds of people. I am always happy to add more members to the list. If you would like to be added, please contact me via email: mailto:[email protected].
 
*** My audio shiurim on the topics of Tefilah and Tanach may be found at: Tefilah and Tanach
 
*** I have posted 164 of Rabbi Soloveitchik’s English language audio shiurim (MP3 format) spanning the years 1958-1984. Please click on the highlighted link.

---