Page 35 - RMBA Upper School Haggadah 2018

Why do bad things happen to good people? Why did God subject His children to four hundred
years of slavery, oppression, and abuse? It is an intriguing conundrum, one that I like to call the
Passover Complex.
One thing that has always struck me as odd within the story of Passover is just how faithful the
Jews were to this unseen heavenly force we call God. How could they, a er all they had been
through, accept the words of former-Egyp an-prince-gone-religious-prophet Moses just like
that, completely disregarding the hundreds of years they had spent being whipped and
slaughtered daily? What kind of a people would just let that slide? Only the unthinkably
desperate, apparently.
The unthinkably desperate?
Huh. It would seem that in mes of need, the Jewish people saw a beacon of hope in God.
Despite all they had been through, even though they forgot about Him and His love for a while,
they welcomed back His presence with just the promise of a be er life, despite He Himself
being the one to take it all away in the first place. It may not be the only answer to The Passover
Complex, but it certainly is one of them. For as much as God takes and hurts, He returns and
rewards with growth. Everything is a test, and it is up to us to pass it.
“Borrowing” From Egypt - Shifra Zonana (9th Grade)
“Speak now in the ears of the people, and let them ask every man of his friend and every
woman of her friend, jewels of silver and jewels of gold” [Shemot 11:1-2] The Torah uses the
word “yishalu” which means borrowing. Why was that word used if the Jews weren't planning
on giving these riches back to the Egyp ans?
The Gerer Rebbe answers that this was the first me the Jewish people as a na on were
becoming wealthy. Money is considered a powerful force and can “break” people by making it a
priority and turning people greedy. Therefore Hashem instructed them to “borrow” these riches
so the money wouldn't turn them greedy and against each other. We also consider that the
money was borrowed because we view ourselves as guardians of the money because Hashem
can give it to us or take it away whenever He pleases. Also, the Jewish people did as Moshe
commanded, so in fact Jews were just fulfilling a prophet’s command; not asking out of greed.
Hashem has the power to give us anything, just like He has the power to take anything away
from us. We should not only be grateful for what Hashem gave us, but we should also fear
Hashem because He has the power to take anything from us.

We lift up our cup wine and cover the Matzah, as we recite the following and recall G-d's
promise to Abraham, emphasizing eternal divine watchfulness.

34