And here, the child asks (from the Hagada)
Said Rabbi Aaron of Karlin, in the name of his father, Rabbi Asher of Stolin: "Here," on the night of the seder, every Jewish child may request of his Father in Heaven anything he wishes, and he will receive extra strength and vitality for all of his needs. (Beit Aharon)
Four cups of wine
The four cups of wine at the Passover seder are symbolic of the four kingdoms that have oppressed the Jewish people throughout history: Babylon, Medes, Greece and Edom (Rome). They also allude to the "four cups of retribution" G-d will give the nations, and the "four cups of consolation" the Jews will be given to drink. (The Jerusalem Talmud)
The wicked son says: What is this service to you? ...You may tell him: If he had been there [in Egypt], he would not have been redeemed (The Hagada)
What purpose does it serve to tell the wicked son that had he lived in those days he would not have been worthy of Redemption? The answer: Although it is true that the wicked son would not have been redeemed from Egypt, he will be redeemed with Moshiach in the Final Redemption! Unlike all other historical redemptions, every single Jew will go out of our present exile. This is the implicit message of the Hagada on the seder night. (Peninei HaGeula)
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth (the "HaMotzi" blessing)
Why do we thank G-d for "bringing forth bread from the earth" when in reality it yields wheat, which must then be baked into bread? According to the Talmud, when Moshiach comes the earth will produce ready-made bread. Our Sages instituted the blessing with these particular words in anticipation of the Messianic era. (Toldot Yitzchak)
Reprinted from the Tzav 5752/1992 edition of L’Chaim.
