Slavery in the Hagadah: Literal or Metaphorical?
By: Monica Sass, Rel/Ed
Slavery has been a long debated issue in history, both Jewish and secular. When we picture slavery, what comes to mind? Probably strenuous labor, and if you’re thinking about the Passover story, that labor includes building pyramids. The Seder is most often looked at as being a celebration of freedom, as we remember the ancient Israelites escaping Pharoah’s rule and crossing the red sea into Israel. However, when we say the line “Hashta Avadya” in the Seder, we are saying that we are still slaves. This seems a little out of place, because aren’t we celebrating our freedom? The Hebrew word for Egypt, Mitzrayim, literally means confinement, or narrow places. So, when the Jews escaped from Egypt, they were not only freeing themselves from physical slavery, they were freeing themselves from everything that metaphorically confined them as well.
Metaphorical confinement is what we refer to in the Seder when we say that we are still slaves. We are slaves to everything that distracts us, and everything that gets in the way of us trying to be our true selves. Passover is a week out of every year in which we try to free ourselves from what enslaves us to be able to clear our heads.
This is a reason we don’t eat leavened bread during the holiday as well. During the Seder, we are not only celebrating freedom, but we are remembering the hardships of slavery as well. When we can eat all foods, we are less likely to think about the work that went into making it. When we can’t eat foods that are normally staples in our diet, we have to think about everything we are eating. When we think about what we eat, we inevitably end up thinking about the work that went into making it.
This Passover, think about what confines you, and try to set yourself free. Be sure that you are trying to set yourself free from something that is truly in your own control. For example, if you feel confined by the snow, you may have to wait a few weeks till the weather actually matches what season we’re in. But above all, think about what you want to get out of the experience. Do you want to feel more spiritual? Have a greater appreciation for nature? Have a greater appreciation for the many steps that are taken to put food on the Seder table? Feel like you’re reaching your full potential? Passover is a holiday centered around asking questions, so feel free to ask your family and friends at Seder about this as well!
Chag Sameach!
Monica Sass
BJUSY Religion/Education VP 2012-2013
CRUSY Heschel Tri-Chair 2012-2013
USY Rel/Ed International General Board 2013
Metaphorical confinement is what we refer to in the Seder when we say that we are still slaves. We are slaves to everything that distracts us, and everything that gets in the way of us trying to be our true selves. Passover is a week out of every year in which we try to free ourselves from what enslaves us to be able to clear our heads.
This is a reason we don’t eat leavened bread during the holiday as well. During the Seder, we are not only celebrating freedom, but we are remembering the hardships of slavery as well. When we can eat all foods, we are less likely to think about the work that went into making it. When we can’t eat foods that are normally staples in our diet, we have to think about everything we are eating. When we think about what we eat, we inevitably end up thinking about the work that went into making it.
This Passover, think about what confines you, and try to set yourself free. Be sure that you are trying to set yourself free from something that is truly in your own control. For example, if you feel confined by the snow, you may have to wait a few weeks till the weather actually matches what season we’re in. But above all, think about what you want to get out of the experience. Do you want to feel more spiritual? Have a greater appreciation for nature? Have a greater appreciation for the many steps that are taken to put food on the Seder table? Feel like you’re reaching your full potential? Passover is a holiday centered around asking questions, so feel free to ask your family and friends at Seder about this as well!
Chag Sameach!
Monica Sass
BJUSY Religion/Education VP 2012-2013
CRUSY Heschel Tri-Chair 2012-2013
USY Rel/Ed International General Board 2013