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One of the most famous elements of the Passover Seder is the "Ma Nishtana" paragraph, more commonly known as "The Four Questions." After asking, "Why is this night different from all other nights?" the paragraph continues by listing four differences:
It is generally assumed that the "Avadim Hayinu" ("We were slaves") paragraph that follows the Four Questions is an explanation for the puzzling differences that have just been mentioned.
The commentator Ol'lot Ephraim offers a different approach to understanding the Four Questions. He notes that the Torah often uses the words "night" and "day," beyond their literal meanings, to hint to the concepts of exile and redemption. Based on this remark, we can understand the beginning of the Four Questions as actually asking, "Why is this exile different from all other exiles?"
We already know two elements that distinguish our current Jewish exile (now 2,000 years) from previous ones. First, it is much longer than any other exile we have experienced, and we also don't know when it will end. (Previous generations in exile had prophets who could foresee when redemption would come.) Why is this exile so much longer than previous exiles, and why were we not informed of its end?
According to the Ol'lot Ephraim, the Four Questions are actually Four Answers to this single question regarding the exile. Each part addresses a different element of the Jewish people's current situation:
Based on this approach, the "Avadim Hayinu" paragraph does not answer the Four Questions. Rather, it simply fulfills the Talmud's requirement that the recounting of the Exodus story "begin by mentioning the Jewish people's lowly state, and end with an outpouring of praise."
May we all be blessed this Passover to climb the spiritual ladder of success that is outlined in the 15 stages of the Seder. May we rid ourselves of disputes, materialism, passions and pride. May we let go of all the spiritual impurity we have picked up during this long exile, and celebrate redemption by purging ourselves of the "Egypt" that has taken root within us.