tsai ulmad

Tsai ulmad

1 It starts from yaakov because he in choron was like the yidden in mitsraim in many ways. Because ovos are a siman to their children. They got ten plagues and his wages were changed ten times. Yaakov had to run away and so did the Jews from Egypt. Laban reached him on the seventh and so did pharaoh reach the yidden on the seventh. They emptied out Egypt and he emptied out Laban.

2 Because of Laban tried to kill my father he went to Egypt? The pshat is he might think he was the cause since by giving Leah first and yaakov liking yossef best and giving him the bechora that caused strife among the brothers and caused them to go to Egypt. On that the hagada says that wasn’t the cause of them going to Egypt but hashem ‘forced’ it. And if not for yosef being there he would have had to go with iron chains, so Laban was the cause of him going down in honor and not the cause of him going down.

3 Go and learn. Meaning if you have a question. That since Laban was ‘worse’ why don’t we commemorate that at all. On that the answer is go and learn elsewhere about it not in the hagada that that was impossible and couldn’t happen. The Jewish people will always be, whereas pharaoh who only wanted to kill the males that could happen since he intended to marry the females to the Egyptians and their children would still be Jewish. So we have to thank hashem that it didn’t happen.

4 Compelled by the word. Meaning the words of yakov that he wants to live in peace. As soon as he said that he was troubled with yosef. So now he only wanted to live like a ger and not as a citizen in peace so that he should not be troubled again.

5 Pharaoh was only on the males whereas Laban wanted to destroy the lot even the females. It is known that there mitsvot which one has to do which only males have to and mitsvot what you must not do which apply even to females. Pharaoh refers to the yetser hora who wanted to stop then ‘doing’ the mitsvot and that is only the males. Laben meaning white the ‘ramai’ intends them to do the aveiros by saying they are white like mitsvot and doing aveiros even females are not allowed to do.

6 Why did pharaoh only decree on the males. It says there were three advisors for pharaoh. Each has something against the yidden. Jethro came from midian from ketura and Abraham gave everything to yitschak. Bilaam from laban and yaakov took the lot. Iyov from dina who got nothing because she was a daughter. Yisro ran away so they were left with Bilaam and Iyov. Iyov’s complaint was only againt the males who gave nothing to their sister so although Bilaam’s was against all of them they only agreed against the males.

7 It says that the hunger was only in canaan and not in Egypt or Aram. So yaakov had a choice of these two and preferred Egypt because ‘arami’ tried to ‘oved’ meaning induce him to idol worship he rather went to Egypt.

8 The posuk says they lived there with few people and became a huge nation. Meaning the ‘ger yiye zaracho’ started then and should have been 400 years of hard labor but because you became a huge people and many more workers it was halved.

9 One can say that yaakov like yitschok should not have gone to Egypt. And the galut need only have started with his children. But because of ‘arami’ what he did in chron (perhaps stayed too long there) he also had to go to Egypt.

10 One must understand as we go along what the posuk it brings from shemos is telling us more than we read from the posuk in devarim. Because maybe it was pharaoh who only intended they should not settle. Therefore it brings the posuk that they said it to pharaoh.

11 ‘arami’ my father destroyed him meaning yaakov destroyed Laban by taking out all the holy sparks and with that he could afterwards go to Egypt without being damaged.

12 The hagada means to say there were two reasons why they went to Egypt. One they were forced because of the ‘dibur’ of hashem to Abraham. And also to become a nation.

vhi sheomdo

V’hi sheomdo

1 The continuation means that although they can enslave, afflict and oppress the yidden they cannot also kill them although that is what they are trying to do since hashem saves us from them.

2 They needed to be in Egypt 400 years to extract the ‘sparks’ with which to go to Israel which is 400 parso. Like the posuk says even the the cattle (meaning the sparks) have to come with us that there should not be left a parso (in Israel). But hashem helped us and we finished collecting the sparks early. And this has stood by us, meaning our collection or birur of sparks which was the great possessions they left with from Egypt and no holy sparks being left ensured their downfall has also helped us through the ages that when we take their ‘sparks’ away causes their downfall and in that way saves us.

3 And this has saved our fathers and us. Meaning the torah. Rashi says that when sons are harmed the parents are upset in their grave. Because of this, the torah, for which we went out of Egypt has saved ourselves and our parents from harm and being upset.

4 It says earlier that the nation that you shall serve I will judge. Refers to all nation even after Egypt. And ‘this’ promise has stood by us and our fathers.

5

baruch shomer

Baruch shomer.

1 Hashem told Abraham that they would be 400 years not in their own land. He also said the fourth generation would return there. This was counted from kehat the son of levi who was the first one to be in the shibud. Kehat, Amram, Moshe and his sons were the fourth who entered Israel. So we than hashem that he didn’t count the 400 years from kehat like he counted the fourth generation and instead counted it from Isaac. ??????

2 It says they will serve and afflict you. And the nation that you serve I will judge. It does not mention the nation which will afflict you. One can say the reason is because since yossef was sold as a slave they had no right anymore to enslave you so for that they were judged, whereas to afflict they still had right.

mitchila

Mitchila

1 The idea is that the idol worshippers settled in their places ‘always’ and did not have to move about. Whereas Abraham had to go the whole land of canaan to preach about hashem. The same Eisov lives happily in Seir but yaakov had to go to Egypt to make the Egyptians realise there is a G-d.

2 In Egypt there was the blood of the pesach which was for emuna against the idols. This was for Abraham. And also the blood of mila which refers to tuma. And the idea of ‘blood’ is that a person has to be moser nefesh for both ‘kfira and tuma’.

3 Pilpul. There are different reasons for galus mitsraim. It could be because of the sin of adam horishon or because Abraham said how will I know.

He wants to prove that it was because of Adam harishon, and since he had seventy nations, seventy people had to go to Egypt and that is when the galus started. Maybe it started from Yitschak and the reason is because of Abraham. And the galus was in canaan where yitschak lived since it was a land that was not his. On that the hagada says it cant be, because it says that I led Abraham meaning he made a kinyan chazaka on it so it was his. Maybe one can say that a kinyan chazaka does not help only after matan torah. On that it says I gave him a present yitschak that means Abraham could not have children on his mazal and only because Jewish people don’t have mazal could he have children so that proves he is considered Jewish even before matan torah. Another proof that it was not because of Abraham is because why did I give Eisov one of his grandchildren har Seir as an inheritance that proves he is considered his child and only yaakov went to Egypt. That proves it was because of Adam horishon and Abraham.

4 There were seventy nations. Each with its sar above. Abraham was unable to have children bteva and had no sar above. He was given the land of Israel which also has no sar above. After he was thrown in ur kasdim he became like a new brioh. That is why it says terach died. Meaning he was not his son anymore. And I took him the whole of the land of canaan to be ‘kone’ the land. I gave him childen meaning through hagar and ketura since they could have children normally. But I ‘gave’ him yitschak since sara could not have children. I ‘gave’ yitschak since he and rivka could not have children. I gave eisov har seir, meaning I had to give him from someone else since he also had no sar above. But yaakov and his sons couldn’t be given the land of canaan yet since they had not yet sinned ‘enough’ so they went in the meantime to Egypt.

5 Adam Harishon lived 930 years and did the three cardinal sins. The avot lived for 502 years and needed another 430 odd years for which they had to be slaves to be ‘mechaper’ on him,.

Abraham was mesaken idol worship but his son Ishmael still worshipped them. Isaac was mesaken murder when he put his neck out but he still had a son eisov. Yaakov was mesaken arayos but he sill married two sisters. So the yidden had to go to Egypt to finish off the tikun. Hard work for avoda zoro. Affliction for arayot because that is what the hagada says later on they afflicted us. And galus for killing which is usually for killing by mistake. Now the blood of the pesach was for idol worship, the blood of the mila for bloodshed and arayot.

6

Yochol mrosh chodesh

Rosh chodesh

1 This is a continuation from before. Why is it only when there is matsa and maror lying in front of you. Since a dumb son does not understand words but does understand action. The gemoro also says a young child cannot have kavono but can have action to prove why he is doing it.

2 Why not from rosh chodesh? The reason is because they stopped work from rosh chodesh but that is not the main thing. The main thing is doing mitsvot not just ‘cheirus haguf’ also cheirus hanefesh. And that was only at night.

3 Why not from rosh chodesh? That we should not hold that the planets and stars decide our fate. But we yidden only believe the mitsvot decide it not the first of the month or the middle. Only at the time we do mitsvot.

4 One might think one can only do tshuva from the beginning of ones years. Or at least in the middle, so it says one can do it even at the end as long as you have matsa and maror yester tov and yetser hora functioning.

5 The idea was to bring the lamb which was their idol into the kedusha. So one might think one should do it at the beginning of the month when the commandmant was to take the lamb so that it should not fall into the hands of the chitzonim at all. Because this month the mazal of Nissan is the lamb. Or you might think on the day when it was schected so it says it isn’t until it was eaten with matsa and maror only then did it fully come into the kedusha and tikun.

6 It mentions just matsa and maror and not pesach. You might think from rosh chodesh when they were told about the pesach or on the day when they shechted the pesach so it says only at night when matsa and maror is before you. It means that we have to say the hagada even when there is no pesach only matsa and maror like today in galus. Therefore it was not said at the beginning of the month or the day when it would only refer to the pesach.

7 You might think you have to wait till you have a new and pure heart like the new moon, or at least wait till you stop doing sins. So it says even when matsa meaning mitsvot and maror youre still doing sins are before you, you can still start.

8 Similar. You might think at least he has to prepare himself from rosh chodosh to stop doing aveiros or at least the same day. So it says even while you have the maror and are still doing avieros you can start.

Tam

Tam ma hu omer

He asks what is this? This question could mean anything. The way to learn is find out from the answer what the question was.

Here are a few suggestions.

1 He asks what is this. This 'zos' is a feminine form. Why this form. The answer because of 'one' strong hand. So the 'job' wasnt finished until moshiah comes where it will be 'connu yodecho' both hands.

2 iyov was also called tam not just Jakob. This refers to him. Why do I get such punishments. The answer because the satan had a strong hand meaning a strong reason they should not go out since they also did idol worship, so hashem gave him iyov to deal with instead.

3 The gemoro says that the yidden will say that hashem has sold us and if a person sells a slave can the old master have a claim. On that we answer 'mbeis avodim' that pharaoh was also a slave on hashem and therefore his master as well.

4 Similar. How can hashem just take us away from a master. On that we answer 'mbeis avodim' pharaoh was a son of cham who was cursed as a slave and has no right to be a master.

5 Why did hashem have to take us out and not an angel. On that we answer 'mbeis avodim' we were servants to the idols to the 49th degree and the angel couldnt come anymore.

6 Why is the yetser hora so strong over us and daily gets more. The answer 'bchozek yad' the stronger he is the more likely 'hotsionu' we will be taken out.

7 Why were we taken out early. The answer 'mbeis avodim'. The yidden did double the work. They were only supposed to work for pharaoh but worked for the Egyptians as well.

8 Why are we still in galus since we are doing all the mitsvot of the night like they did in Egypt. On that the answer 'bchozek yad'. In Egypt it was good enough because hashem took us out with a strong hand meaning although we didnt really deserve it but today we have to do more for the geula shlaimo.

9 Similar to one why the feminine form. On that we answer 'bchozek yad'. We didnt deserve it on through the strong hand of hashem were we taken out. And by lot it said dont look back and his wife did and became a pillar of salt. If its not in your own zchus one mustnt look. Here also they were not allowed out of the house till morning.

10 'zos' refers to the leviim which the posuk says 'zos asher lalveiim'. Why do they have to do pesach they were not slaves. The answer, they were also in Egypt with the 49th degree of tuma and needed a strong hand to take them out and also even though they werent slaves could not leave Egypt.

11 Why do we only commemerate Egypt, just 'this' and not the other golus. The answer because this is the only one were we were released from bondage. Pharaoh is no more whereas we are still servants of ahchashverosh.

12 Why do commemorate this. We were promised in advance that we would be taken out. The answer that sometimes the sin is 'gorem' that promises are not kept. 'bchozek yad' it needed a strong hand from hashem because we were so low at the 49th degree.

13 Why is korbon pesach a year old and not more. Because 'bchozek yad' refers to what hashem did to their idols which were the lambs of a year old.

14 Why are we more concerned and work harder at the mitsvas of pesach than any other mistvot. The answer because of 'bchozek yad' hashem also had to work harder to get us out.

15 What is so special that hashen could kill the mitsrim is it so difficult for him. The answer it needed 'bchozek yad' of mercy since the 'kitrug' was very great.

16 Why is everything double. Like in the ma nishtana two signs of slavery and two of redemption. The answer because we were taken out of 'mitraim' meaning the 'sar' of Egypt and the house of slavery. There were two things to contend with.

17 How could hashem take us out without hearing the 'other side'. The answer 'bchozek yad'. He had no choice. The law is that if your article will be damaged you dont have to go to beis din and 'ovid dina lnafshei'. Here as well it needed a strong hand because one more second they would have reached the 50th degree and it would have been too late.

18 Why do we have a double sign for slavery. The maror and charoset. The answer 'bchozek yad' meaning that it was before the time and needed a special 'strong hand'. And the reason because of 'kushi hashibud'. So we need another sign for that as well.

19 The question of the tam is mentioned in the parsha of kadesh. He asks why are even firstborns of donkeys 'holy'. On that the answer the strong hand which is because of the 'kushi hashibud'. And even Jewish people who did avoda zoro who are compared to asses worked hard so we remember them as well.

20 Why cant we now live off state grants, why must we bother to work. The answer remember what happened in Egypt. They also started of with 'pe rach' but in the end it turned out to 'chozek yad' of pharaoh. That means pharaoh's hand was so strong against us that it was impossible to get away and it needed hashem to take us out. One shouldnt think they will always feed us for nothing.

Rosho

6Rosho what does he say.

1 The rosho is taking himself out of the klal and trying to get other to follow him this is termed a rosho l’hachis. He asks why must we do this ‘work’ there were many r’shoim who left Egypt without it like Micha. We reply they were still part of the klal only rosho lteavon, but you a rosho lhachis have left the klal and you would not have been redeemed.

2 The rosho is saying to his father you wasn’t in Egypt so why do you need this work. The answer is that on a ‘nes’ of the klal we all have to commemorate. If you think everyone was an individual in Egypt and therefore its not binding on us then if you would have been there you would not have been redeemed as an individual.

3 We say to the rosho, that if a rosho is part of the klal that would stop the whole klal being redeemed. But since you are not part of the klal only you would not be redeemed and you would not have disturbed us.

4 The rosho is someone who does not believe in hashem but in idols. We say to him, although hashem does not punish for thoughts alone unless you serve the idol, but once you have such thoughts you will not be saved. Therefore you would have died in Egypt with the others and not be redeemed even though you have not served them.

5 The gemoro says that an illness can be in the surroundings of a big tsadik from which he will be saved but not from a smaller tsadik. In Egypt there were no great tsadikim so hashem had to ‘jump’ to make sure the ‘illness’ never reached their houses. Therefore since there were no big tsadikim in Egypt, you a big rosho would have no one there to save you and you would not be redeemed.

6 The ran says that for the tsadikim it wasn’t necessary to ‘jump’ over the houses to save them since they had done nothing wrong, it was only to save the wicked. The rosho asks why are you doing this work the korbon pesach we answer, that really you are the one who is supposed to be doing it, since if hashem wouldn’t have ‘jumped’ you would not have been saved but killed instead.

7 The rosho is saying why should we do the avoda because we were saved. It would have been better if we would not have been in Egypt at all and not worked. But really the work was for out good to cleanse us from our sins. On that we answer him if the work would not have been done the ‘kushi hashibud’ we would not have got out.

8 We answer him if youre not part of the klal you would not have been saved. Because the whole geula only comes with achdus and therefore we eat the korbon pesach b’chabura. But we finish off hashem made for ‘me’ meaning when the geula comes for the klal we each have our own separate geula as well.

9 We finish if he would have been in Egypt he would not have been redeemed. But now that we have the Torah even a rosho can still do tshuva.

10 The rosho asks how is it possible to be an oved hashem through ‘eating’. On that we answer him if you don’t believe that you don’t need teeth!

11 The rosho says only you need this work I am above it and don’t need it anymore. We answer someone who is vain is a kofer b’ekar. And baavur ze meaning like the matsa which is a broken piece iour heart was broken, hashem took us out of Egypt.

12 The rosho is saying how can you do this work the korbon pesach someone who has a son a rosho like me shouldn’t be doing it. So therefore your forefather in Egypt never did it. He must have also been a rosho since we are all part of our parents. So we reply if that was the case he wouldn’t have been saved. And therefore you cant be the rosho you think you are.

13 The gemoro says that the whole world lives off R Chanina ben Dosa. The rosho is saying he doesn’t believe he lives off the tsadik and all the avoda he does is for himself not for others. On that we say that is called being a kofer. And hashem did it for me, the tsadik and the rest were also included because of him. And if you don’t want to believe that you would not have been saved.

14 The rosho says I cant eat the korbon pesach since I am a ben naichor but so cant you since you never were working in Egypt. We reply we were in Egypt like it says we have to imagine we were there and working there. Therefore with our ‘imagination’ we can eat it but you even if you imagine you were there cant. Since you would not have been saved.

15 The rosho says I don’t consider this avoda at all just eating! On that we reply that in Egypt we put the blood on the doorpost as a sign. For you it would have been a sign of death and you would not have been saved but for us it is a sign of a korbon and we were saved.

16 baavur ze. Meaning the rest of the matsa and maror which they took on their shoulders as they left Egypt. This was a shmira like mezuzah for them. Hashem made for me meaning he sheltered me as we left Egypt.

17 To the one who cant ask. We say this posuk meaning because we were like you, unable to talk only to cry and sigh, hashen took us out of Egypt.