A night of gratitude

People have asked me whether I’m selling the chametz this year. The answer is, of course, yes. If you want me to be your agent to sell your Chametz, please send me a call my office, 718-428-1580,  all the addresses where your chametz is found. Don’t forget to annul it erev Passover as well.

And now my email to of our Haggadah.

“Go and learn what Laban the Aramaean wanted to do to our father Jacob” (Deuteronomy 26:5)

Why did the sages choose the “Aramaean sought to destroy my father.”Aromi oved avi, selection from the Torah to tell the Passover story?

Rabbi Soloveitchik suggests that although the word “Haggadah” refers to the telling of the Passover story, there is an additional underlying meaning to the word Haggadah. The word also suggests giving praise and gratitude.

The Torah states in the portion of Aromi oved avi: ve’higaditi hayom l’Hashem Elocheicha, we see that the word ve’higaditi, from the word Haggadah, in this context means praise: “I offer praise to God.” As the ancient commentator, the Targum Yerushalmi, interprets this phrase “to give praise and thanks to God.”

Rabbi Soloveitchik suggests:

“This may be the reason why this passage in particular was chosen to be recited as the centerpiece of the Seder night as opposed to more explicit verses in the Torah that tell the Exodus story. Aromi oved avi, serves primarily as an expression of praise. These verses teach us that it is not merely a night about retelling our history but even more about giving thanks and offering praise. On the Seder night we are to thank God for the many blessings that he has showered upon us and continues to shower on us, blessings which we often take for granted.” (page 126)

Even in the dark circumstances of the coronavirus, we have much to be thankful for as we gather around the Seder table. For all of us who are healthy, we are grateful for our health. For those who have fallen ill, we are grateful for all the doctors, nurses, aides, and all the other people on the front lines who take care of them to the best of their ability. We are grateful for the technology that allows us to have a virtual Seder including all our friends and relatives who can’t physically be with us on the Seder night. We are grateful to all the wonderful chefs in our homes who still provide a delicious meal. And we are grateful to God who is the source of all these gifts.

Please share with me else are you grateful for.