Envisioning Freedom

Why was the first Seder celebrated when we were still slaves in Egypt?

by Charlie Harary

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Published: March 31, 2012

Visitor Comments: 20

(17) Josh, March 31, 2013 6:48 PM

Provision

Maybe He saw the vision He had for us and all it takes from us is an ear - as in, a parent saying to one of his children, "Would you run and get this for me," and of course the child goes. Why? Not because he knows what he is doing but because he was asked; and because he trusts. And he knows that upon returning to his father what his father had asked for he would enter his father's joy. G-d is kind of like that, listen to me and I will show you the plan I have for you and it is far greater than anything you might have hoped for.

(16) Joël Boosman, March 31, 2013 9:36 AM

Moëd tob umborach!

This video message was really inspiring and powerful. Thanks for this and other efforts, Mr. Harary and Aish. I'm gonna try this in my life perhaps :) 'Hag Samea'h

(15) Gary, March 19, 2013 1:30 PM

Addressing The Wider Jewish Community

I have noted that most of the chissuk videos/discussions target picture book classic young Jewish families. The problem here is that there are a vast number of Jewish broken homes. Many families face numerous issues with seperated spouses, children/teenagers with various issues, etc...
In this day & age you would do well to address these types of disparate families/singles and children with some answers & giving chizuk where it is truly needed.
The issues we face during wars & anti-semitism are at least an obvious enemy which draws us together in unity. Unfortunately the problems & disunity we face within the community are far more difficult & damaging.

(14) Antonio Perez, April 2, 2012 4:43 PM

Envisioning Freedom

Unfortunately our ancestors didn't get that message and wandered in the Sinai for 40 years. We can learn from their exodus and all the other events in our long history and make a better present and future for ourselves and our children and grandchildren. Thank you very much for this Passover message. I hope everyone enjoys a happy Passover.

(13) Ephraim Shalom, April 2, 2012 7:23 AM

OUTSTANDING!

Thank you for such an outstanding and inspirational video! Happy Passover to everyone!

(12) Anonymous, April 2, 2012 6:28 AM

So Powerful

His videos are so powerful, but I think his message would get across just as well with him in front of a blank screen. I don't know if it's my A.D.D. kicking in or not, but the graphics and words across the screen just make the video way too distracting. Also, my eyes can't keep up with the fast moving images.

Michael, April 4, 2012 7:14 PM

Love it just as it is!

Don't change a thing!!!

(11) LIORA, April 2, 2012 4:55 AM

Thank you Aish and Thank you Mr. Harary. Happy passover

Esther G. Pollak, March 1, 2013 4:19 AM

It was inspirational.

Your videos with the graphics really do wonders in stressing the point you want to make. Continue doing your great work!

(10) Anonymous, April 2, 2012 4:40 AM

as usual, Charlie speaks with such clarity. he opens up our hearts and minds to teh basics, which we sometimes forget! Chag someach to all.

(9) jf, April 2, 2012 4:39 AM

Were the Jews Still Slaves at the First Seder?

Question: Were the Jews still slaves at the first seder in Egypt? My Rabbi says that the Jews stopped being slaves as soon as the Ten Plagues began, even they had not left Egypt.

Anonymous, April 2, 2012 5:19 PM

I think that they were not doing actual servitude- they were not being slaves but at the same time, they still were locked in Egypt. They could not just get up and leave. They were stuck

(8) Josephina Carmichael, April 2, 2012 3:31 AM

An extra day

Excellent video Charlie. I always love your videos, they are so insightful and informative. I love Pesach, even though I sometimes feel like a slave to the cleaning. I love the Seder, too. I love singing all the songs and stay up all hours, til the last. People that live outside of Israel are lucky to have 2. I consider it a bonus that this year we have an 8th day, since we get to add Shabbos as our last. I agree that we should all sit at our Seder and imagine that we can do anything. I can't imagine that our ancestors really believed that they were going to walk away from everything, that had been plaguing them for years. That act of faith may very well have been their ticket to ride. We have to listen to our hearts, and really believe, now too, that anything is possible, and prepare ourselves accordingly. May we all be zoche to share in the karbon Pesach, together, in Jerusalem, in the very near future. Chag Kosher Visameach.

(7) lisa, April 2, 2012 1:04 AM

Visualize

It's such a gr8 concept!! How something so "regular" can really free us!! Thanks again for an inspiring message.....have a happy , meaningful & stressfree Pesach!

(6) ruth housman, April 2, 2012 12:25 AM

Journey to the PROMISED land

This is beautiful. I felt all these words as deeply true, and so wonderfully stated. Thank You, Charlie! I have been visualizing world peace for a long time, since before I began to experience massive synchronicity and the recording of a story that seems to come to me, every day, in every way, a story that is deeply about the Hebrew Letters and the Creation of the World. A story that feels like a fairy tale but true, and it has all the elements of a ferry tale, that is fast forwarding us all, to the Magic Kingdom, a place of great joy, and dancing in the streets. All night long. I do believe matzoh is a burnt parchment on which a story has been written, in the history of the Jews and our ancestors, through all the sorrows and the joys. I believe we all experience MARA or what is bitter in life, but that sweet, as in the honey, that comes with the sting, with the honey bee, there is a deep Promise God made and that this Promise will happen. And why not NOW. Why not? For me, it is true, that if you can do it with words, it can happen. If you make of your life a masterpiece, you can make of life, a master peace. We can do this together, with concerted effort, as this is a concert and God is our conductor. There is a solution to peace in the Middle East, to what appears to be an insoluble problem, and I think the answer is contained by the words themselves, as I am following the most amazing story ever told. We are all of us, more connected than we ever thought possible. I believe this is a story that involves this whirling world, and that as word is within world, this story belongs to us all. And as world too, is too whirled, this is a spinning story, about the best yarn ever! Next Year, in Jerusalem!

(5) nir, April 1, 2012 10:03 PM

feels like watching a breaking news story on CNN

I must heard this msg a few times. But with Charlie it feels like I'm watching a breaking news story on CNN

(4) chana@jewishmom.com, April 1, 2012 7:31 PM

great video

Thanks so much, this was great and really eye-opening. One thing though, I really missed the mashal you always include to make the point stronger. For example, the story about your kids or a friend etc. If possible, hope your next one includes a personal story like that.

(3) Bracha Goetz, April 1, 2012 5:23 PM

Thank you

Wonderful!!

(2) Anonymous, April 1, 2012 5:23 PM

This is beautiful, thank you!

(1) nechami, April 1, 2012 4:37 PM

AWESOME!

Thank you for the inspiration, I could not have seen this at a better time! As I continue to prepare for the Chag I will contemplate this fantastic idea! thank you!

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About the Author

Charlie Harary

More by this Author >

Mr. Charlie Harary, Esq. is a prolific speaker who has traveled all over the country and abroad speaking for organizations, schools, universities and institutions on a variety of topics and to audiences of various sizes and affiliations. He has created dozens of videos that have received worldwide attention reaching hundreds of thousands of people in over 15 countries.

Mr. Harary is the CEO of H3 Capital LLC, a private equity company based in New York.

Prior to H3 Capital, Mr. Harary was the First Vice President of Residential Operations and Legal Counsel of RXR Realty, a multi-billion dollar Real Estate Company based in New York. Prior to RXR, Mr. Harary was an associate in Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and Davis Polk & Wardwell. He received his J.D. from Columbia Law School where he was awarded the James Kent Scholar and the Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.

Mr. Harary is an Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at the Syms School of Business in Yeshiva University. He is also a Senior Lecturer for the Orthodox Union, Aish Hatorah and NCSY.

In addition, he is an active community leader. He is the founder and president of Milvado Inc., an organization that develops innovative methods to teach spirituality in relevant and modern ways. He is a member of the Executive Board of the OU as well as the Founding Chairman of its Young Leadership Cabinet. He is also a member of the Conference of Young Jewish Presidents.

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Envisioning Freedom

Why was the first Seder celebrated when we were still slaves in Egypt?

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