What is the point of Magid in the seder? Many believe that Avadim Hayinu is the beginning of the story of Yetziat Mitzrayim, but it is really the answer to this question. Although Avadim Hayinu sounds like a story, it is really telling us that we must recount the story because Hashem did great miracles for us and took out out of Egypt. 

The Haggadah Connection says that Avadim Hayinu says that Hashem took the Jews out of Egypt with a strong hand and outstretched arm. What is the point of saying both? The strong hand is to show that going out of Egypt was miraculous and the outstretched arm is to show that it was clearly from Hashem, not a hidden miracle like the Purim story. Hashem took them out and made it known that it was Him. 

If showing Hashem's strength is the source for recounting the story, however, then our question still stands. Why do we need to repeat the story each year? We get the point. We know Hashem is amazing. 

According to Rabbi Sacks, the Mishna in Pesachim says that when we tell the story of Yetziat Mitzrayim, we must start with shame and end with praise. Rav and Shmuel argue over what this means for us at our sedarim. Shmuel believes that the “story” begins with us being slaves to Pharoh in Egypt and ends with our present freedom. This places more emphasis on physical freedom. Rav believes our story starts when we worshipped idols, and now we are close to Hashem. This focuses on spiritual freedom. The two also differ on who the story is geared toward. A child will have more ease understanding a story of physical slavery, whereas an adult can put themselves in a spiritual mindset as well.

This tells us that the telling of the story is not only geared to us, but its purpose is really to teach our children about Hashem and the lengths He went to in order to get us out of Egypt. It is important to pass this message on to our children because had it not have happened, we would still be in Egypt. 

Therefore, Avadim Hayinu teaches us that the point of telling the exodus story is really to fulfill "V'higadata levanecha" and continue on Jewish children's love for Torah and Hashem for generations for the rest of eternity. 


 


haggadah Section: Maggid - Beginning