By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
Pesach, matza, and marror are the three main focuses of the Haggada. The Emek Bracha brings down from the Griz that when Reb Chaim Brisker would say these three things in the Haggada, he would explain that there are three differences between the mitzvah of “sippur” and “zechira” of Y
The Maharsha in Pesachim, daf kuf tes vov, amud bais asks why is the explanation of why we do the mitzvah so important here? We do not find this concept concerning other mitzvos; making the bracha is usually sufficient to fulfill the commandment.
This can be explained by defining the many different types of mitzvos. There are chukim, mishpatim, eidus and pikudim. The Redak in Tehillim, Perek Kuf Yud Tesexplains that the mitzvos called eidus are m
The Rosh explores why we don’t need a bracha before the sippur. He explains that there are many mitzvos that are done to remind us about yetzias Mitzrayim. All the yomim tovim are a zecher for yetzias Mitzrayim. The Torah commands us to execute actions as a reminder of yetzias Mitzrayim. The haggada is an elaboration and explanation of the mitzvah since it provides the necessary questions and answers, but the ikkar mitzvah of “sippur” is really the activities that we do to remind us of the “sippur.” With this understanding, we can answer the Maharsha’s question. We are not giving reason as to why we do the mitzvos. We are just doing the mitzvah of “sippur yetzias Mitzrayim” with the proper props and we therefore need to explain the eidus while we do the mitzvah. So our saying the haggada is actually a hagaddas eidus and not a reason for doing the mitzvah.
May we all be zocheh to do the “sippur” with the Korban Pesach in front of us.
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