"And God led the people roundabout..." (Shmot 13.18)
"From here our Rabbis learned: Even the poor man among Israel should not eat uinless reclining, for this the Almighty did to them, as it is said: "And God led the people roundabout." (Shmot Rabbah 20.18)
One of the important customs of the Passover Seder as we commemorate the exodus from Egypt, is that we eat and drink in a reclining position. The fulfillment of the mitzvot of eating matzot and drinking the four cups of wine is complete when we do so reclining in comfort, signifying freedom, as do royalty when they settle in to a grand feast. One might question how the poor person, who is otherwise destitute, can celebrate the Seder in such a carefree manner. He may reasonably commemorate his ancestors' deliverance to freedom, but if he himself is troubled and burdened, how can he identify with the sense of relief that reclining signifies. He is more likely to identify in a personal way with the slavery that the matza, the "bread of affliction" as the Haggadah refers to it, symbolizes. He is unlikely to feel like royalty at the Seder table, even if he reclines the entire evening.
Yet the Rabbis see things differently. The trusting Jew finds joy in his heart even in trying times. The Midrash praises the faith of our ancestors as they left Egypt and entered the barren desert. They saw the Almighty lead them on a roundabout course through the desert, rather than take the direct route through the land of the Philistines. Still their faith stood strong and they arrived at Sinai to receive the Torah. Common sense might tell them they were embarking on a ill-directed and hopeless journey, yet they did not question and they did not object. This is what the Sages learn from the verse, "And God led the people roundabout through the desert." The root of the Hebrew word "roundabout" is also the root of the word "to recline." Even the poor man, depressed and suffering, must fortify himself with faith in God. Even he cannot fulfill the mitzvot of the Seder night unless he reclines as does the wealthy man. He must rely on the Divine promise that despite the hardships, the winding road leads to redemption.
Our nation has experienced great oppression at the hands of a cruel world. The skies have appeared dark and foreboding. But we must know and remember that the Almighty leads us through the desert and that just as He granted our ancestors miraculous deliverance for which they sang His praise, so too, will we witness His deliverance for which we will sing Him a new song.
finds joy in his heart even in trying times. The Midrash praises the faith of our ancestors as they left Egypt and entered the barren desert. They saw the Almighty lead them on a roundabout course through the desert, rather than take the direct route through the land of the Philistines. Still their faith stood strong and they arrived at Sinai to receive the Torah. Common sense might tell them they were embarking on a ill-directed and hopeless journey, yet they did not question and they did not object. This is what the Sages learn from the verse, "And God led the people roundabout through the desert." The root of the Hebrew word "roundabout" is also the root of the word "to recline." Even the poor man, depressed and suffering, must fortify himself with faith in God. Even he cannot fulfill the mitzvot of the Seder night unless he reclines as does the wealthy man. He must rely on the Divine promise that despite the hardships, the winding road leads to redemption.
