Elijah's Cup

Hi,

"One reason why we pour a fifth cup and call it 'Elijah's Cup' is that there is a debate in the gemara as to whether we use a fifth cup, and the halachah is not determined. Therefore, we pour a fifth cup and we call it 'Elijah's cup,' and when Elijah comes the doubt will be clarified."

(Taamei haMinhagim 551, citing the Vilna Gaon)

Have a great Moed,
Mordechai

Lifting the Seder Plate

Hi,

[During the Seder, at "Ha Lachma Anya," we lift the Seder Plate.]

"One could explain the practice simply, based on this midrash:

"It is written (in Psalms), 'From the refuse, Gd will lift up the poor.' This refers to the Jewish people, who were sunken in Egypt, and Gd elevated them."

(Taamei haMinhagim 530, from Matei Aharon)

Have a wonderful Yom Tov,
Mordechai

Hiding the afikoman

Hi,

"One reason why we hide the afikoman is so that children will see and ask why we are hiding away matzah before we have even eaten. Through the answer we will come to tell the story of leaving Egypt."

(Taamei haMinhagim 527)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Dipping twice

Hi,

"One reason we dip twice [at the Seder] is:

"We dip once to remember the redemption from Egypt, regarding which it is written [for the Pesach offering brought on the night of the redemption], 'You shall take a hyssop bundle and dip it.'

"The second dip is to remember the exile, which was for the sin of selling Joseph, regarding which it is written, 'They dipped his tunic in blood.'"

(Taamei haMinhagim 524, citing Shelah)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Three matzot at the Seder

Hi,

"One reason why we use three matzot is to commemorate the three se'ah measures of flour [that Sarah prepared for the visiting angels in Genesis 18] on Passover.

"We break one of the matzot in order to remember the splitting of the Sea, as well as the Jordan River [when the Jews entered Israel in Joshua 3], which occurred on Passover."

(Taamei haMinhagim 520, citing Daat Zekeinim miBaalei haTosafot)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Seder Kittel - An exercise in humility

Hi,

[Note: A kittel is a simple white robe, worn by grooms under the chuppah in many Jewish communities, and also used as one of the tachrichin burial shrouds.]

"One reason to wear a kittel at the seder is to keep one from becoming arrogant in his joy; thus one wears the garment of the deceased."

(Taamei haMinhagim 503, from the Taz)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Pesach night: A night of protection from harm

Hi,

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Introduction: As part of normal Friday night services, we recite a post-Amidah prayer called מעין שבע or מגן אבות. However, if the Seder night is Friday night then we do not recite this prayer.

"One reason we do not recite מעין שבע if Pesach is Shabbat, is because that prayer was enacted for protection from harmful forces (מזיקין), and Pesach night is ליל שמורים, a night of special Divine protection."

(Taamei haMinhagim 501, from Tur Orach Chaim 487)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Is it Pesach or is it the Festival of Matzah?

Hi,

"Pesach is identified in the Torah as Chag haMatzot [the festival of matzah], but we call it Pesach [Gd passed over the Jewish homes and did not harm them].

"The reason for this is the biblical verse, 'I am for my beloved, and my beloved is for me.' We speak of the praise of Gd, and Gd speaks of the praise of the Jewish people."

(Taamei haMinhagim 498, from Kedushat Levi to Parshat Bo)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Using wheat for matzah

Hi,

"Another reason why we use wheat, specifically, for matzah, is that the Talmud (Berachot 61) compares the inclination for sin to a wheat kernel. We grind up that wheat in a mill, like one who is humbling his inclination for sin."

(Taamei haMinhagim 493)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The badecken blessing

Hi,

"One reason why we bless the bride and groom before the chuppah is because Gd blessed Adam and Chavah, as it is written, 'And Gd blessed them.'"

(Taamei haMinhagim 956, citing Tanya 91)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Are we all friends on Purim?

Hi,

"One reason why we do not recite a blessing upon Mishloach Manot on Purim is because the essential mitzvah is, as recorded in the megilah, 'To send portions, ish l're'ehu,' which means 'each to his friend,' increasing peace. Who can examine hearts, to know if this person truly loves him?

"Therefore no blessings was enacted for this mitzvah, lest it be a blessing in vain."

(Taamei haMinhagim 897 from Orchot Chaim)

Chag Purim Sameach,
Mordechai

Gd's Name in Megilat Esther

Hi,

"One reason why the Name of Gd does not appear in the Megilah is that the Megilah was given to the Persian and Median scribes for recording."

(Taamei haMinhagim 879, citing the Mordechai)

Maharil explains: The concern was that Persian/Median scribes would think of their own gods when recording Gd's Name.

Have an easy and meaningful fast,
Mordechai

Esther's instructions to the Jews

Hi,

"A reason why Esther instructed the Jews to fast for three days was this: Gd will not leave the righteous in trouble for more than three days.

"We find with Rachav [in her instructions to the Jewish scouts she sheltered], 'You will hide in the mountains for three days.'

"We find with Yonah, 'And Yonah was in the innards of the fish for three days.'

"And so regarding the future redemption it is written, 'He will renew our life after two days.'"

(Taamei haMinhagim 868, from Kad haKemach of Rabbeinu Bechayye)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Purim Costumes

Hi,

"We change into unusual clothing during the Purim Seudah [feast] and Purim celebration; this is not an empty practice.

"A reason is that this is a reminder of the sages' statement that the Jews of that time acted improperly only superficially (when they bowed to idols in the days of Babylonian king Nevuchadnezzar), and so HaShem acted improperly only superficially. Therefore, when we celebrate we wear unusual clothing, so that one cannot recognize the appearance of another."

(Taamei haMinhagim 893, from Bnei Yissaschar)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Staying with a dying person

Hi,

A depressing, but important, note:

"One is not permitted to leave a dying person, lest he die in depression. The spirit is desolate when it departs the body in solitude."

(Taamei haMinhagim 1009, citing Kol Bo)

Have a great day,
Mordechai