The Passover Haggadah is central in the Seder night, not only as a ceremonial text or a traditional narrative but as a full-fledged biblical commandment.
This article aims to illuminate the Haggadah's legal foundations, significance, timing, formulation, key halachic perspectives, and fundamental questions raised throughout generations.
The Mitzvah's Foundation: Remembrance and Narrative
Two central verses form the basis of the mitzvah to recount the Exodus from Egypt: "Remember this day, in which you came out from Egypt" and "You shall tell your son."
The first mandates remembrance on the very day, and the second emphasizes the obligation to tell the story—even without a questioning child.
The Sages established that this is a biblical commandment, not merely a rabbinic enactment.
Remembrance vs. Storytelling
Many scholars have addressed the key halachic question: What distinguishes the year-round obligation to remember the Exodus from the Seder night obligation to tell it?
The answer: On all other nights, remembrance suffices, but on this night, one must actively tell, elaborate, and discuss. Even if all participants are wise and learned—"Everyone is obligated to tell"—the storytelling itself is the mitzvah.
The Haggadah's Blessing – And Why None at the Start?
Despite its centrality, the Haggadah does not open with a blessing, as most mitzvots do.
The Sages and early commentators grappled with this. Is it because it has no fixed measurement?
Because it arises from intrinsic motivation rather than command?
Or because the Haggadah is filled with praise, which doesn't require a separate blessing?
Women and the Blind – Who is Obligated?
There has been much discussion about women's obligations in the mitzvah of the Haggadah. On the one hand, it is a time-bound positive commandment from which women are usually exempt.
On the other hand, women were part of the miracle and were obligated to eat matzah. Many rulings conclude that women are indeed obligated, at least rabbinically.
Similarly, although some verses seem to exempt the blind (due to phrases like "this" or "because of this"), the halacha follows those who say they are obligated, as exemplified by blind sages who led the Seder for others.
When Is the Story Told?
The mitzvah of storytelling begins at night when matzah and maror are physically on the table—not earlier.
There is debate about when it ends: some say midnight, others say dawn. The more lenient opinion, allowing storytelling all night, is widely accepted.
The Evolution of the Haggadah Text
The Haggadah's text was compiled and refined over centuries. From early Mishnah-era elements like "Rabban Gamliel said..." to later additions and customs, the text reflects evolving emphasis while retaining its essence: beginning with disgrace, ending in praise, and connecting national history with personal identity.
Halacha Within the Haggadah
The Haggadah contains legal elements throughout. Why don't we bless it?
What if there is no child to ask?
Why is the order of "Paschal lamb before peace offerings" maintained?
Even biblical references such as Esau's inheritance of Seir are interpreted through a halachic lens, linking exile with covenant.
Conclusion
The Haggadah is far more than a book.
It expresses Jewish identity, a living halachic document, a tradition that binds generations—men, women, scholars, and children.
It is retold every year to remember and relive the Exodus, the redemption, and the belief that "in every generation, a person must see themselves as if they personally left Egypt."
