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magid
Contributed by Mark Greenspan

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The Telling - Magid

The central part of the Passover Seder is called “Magid,”  the telling.  Beginning with the words, “Avadim Hayyinu - We were Slaves...” it extends to the meal. The purpose of this section is to recount the story of the Exodus and to encourage a discussion of  its implications for our lives. The Haggadah reviews the exodus by presenting a series of Midrashin or Rabbinic commentaries on Deuteronomy, Chapter 26, Vs 5 - 8.

For the untrained reader,  this section can be confusing. It can also inspire some interesting table discussion - the very purpose of the Seder. Unfortunately, far too many families skip the section of the Haggadah beginning with, “My father was a wandering Aramean” until the ten plagues.  In the interest of encouraging people not to leave out the “Telling”  I have rewritten it in simple language to be used either along with, or in place of,  this section of the Haggadah. It is meant to be read responsively at the Seder.

          Come and hear the story of our people,

          The story we relive on Seder night.

          How our ancestors went forth

          from the straights of Mitzraim

          To the open places of rejoicing and faith.

          This story belongs to you and me.

          An age-old story, it becomes our own

          when we tell it on Seder night.

           “A wandering Aramean was my father.

          he went down to Mitzraim few in number.

          There he became a great nation,

          mighty and numerous.”  (Deut. 26:5)  

          In Egypt we discovered our distinctiveness.

          Few in number, we learned

          that greatness is more than numbers.

          “The Egyptians treated us harshly and oppressed us,

          they  imposed hard labor on us.”   (Deut. 26:6)  

          Their harshness wounded us with false accusations.

          with venom and hate and distrust.

          “We cried out to Adonai,

          the God of our ancestors,

          He heard our voice

          and saw our affliction,

          our toil and our oppression.”  (Deut. 26:7)   

          What did Adonai see in Mitzraim?

          He saw families torn asunder,

          and children made to suffer.    

          God saw the cruelty of Egypt

          and the helplessness of Israel.

          “So Adonai brought us out of Egypt

          with a mighty hand, with an out-stretched arm

          with awe and signs and wonders.”  (Deut. 26:8)  

          Egypt and Israel felt God’s presence

          In every corner of the land.

          His signs filled the earth and the sky

          His wonders could be seen in every Israelite’s eye.

          With a mighty hand He demanded

          justice for the oppressed.

          With plagues and wonders he taught the Egyptians

          the lesson of his power.

          So may God’s signs be present today

          To teach us of Your justice

          and Your mighty acts.

          We continue with the Ten Plagues:
haggadah Section: -- Exodus Story

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