Shabbat Hagadol: Our Story

March 27, 2026

בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר חַיָּב אָדָם לִרְאוֹת אֶת עַצְמוֹ כְאִלּוּ הוּא יָצָא מִמִּצְרַיִם

In each and every generation a person must view themselves as though they left Egypt,

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In a few days we will relive the exodus through the magic of the seder. Through the foods eaten in every generation, the story telling, the gratitude expressed for our freedom, we strive to experience the feeling of redemption for ourselves, and impart it to the next generation. 

But what does it mean to see oneself as if they left Egypt? It means to see the world through the eyes of one who crossed the red sea, to know – not believe, but know that miracles are possible. It means to see oneself as if they were a slave in Egypt and not take their freedom for granted. It means to be on our way to Mount Sinai, each step bringing us closer to God and Torah. It means that we came out of Egypt thousands of years ago, and when we look around our seder to realize that our coming together after so many generations is itself a wonder.

It is a mitzvah, a Torah commandment, to tell the story of Passover. But our Rabbis take it a step further. We are to see ourselves as if we, personally, left Egypt. Telling the story of the Exodus is the first step. Understanding that this is our story, that we are part of it and still writing it, that we are still learning its lessons and growing from it is the ultimate purpose.