Shulchan Oreich - The Lessons of Slavery

We now begin Shulchan Oreich, the eating of the festive meal. As we eat our meal - luxuriantly, as if we were kings, not slaves - and we look back on that journey from slavery to freedom, what messages do we learn?

How is the experience of having been a slave supposed to effect the way we treat others?

What forms of slavery, or other abuses of power, do we see in the world around us today?

The Torah tells us, in many places, "You shall not wrong a stranger (ger) or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall not ill-treat any widow or orphan." Some rabbis say the "ger" being spoken of here is the convert (ger tzedek). Does that interpretation make any sense? Why would some rabbis have chosen that interpretation? Do we accept it or reject it?

If God hardened Pharaoh's heart, how do we explain the justice of the plagues?

Note: it's OK to drink more wine in between the 2nd and 3rd cups...it's a long night...


haggadah Section: Shulchan Oreich