תלמוד בבלי מסכת פסחים דף קטז עמוד א
מתחיל בגנות ומסיים בשבח מאי בגנות? רב אמר: מתחלה עובדי עבודת גלולים היו אבותינו. [ושמואל] אמר: עבדים היינו.
[The Passover haggadah] started in disgrace and ended in praise. What is disgrace? Rav says ‘Our ancestors were idolaters.’ Shmuel says ‘We were slaves.’ [Translation by Uri L’Tzedek]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. According to Shmuel, what is the disgraceful element of the Exodus story?
2. Why is slavery disgraceful?
3. What is the praise of the Exodus story? Why?
Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)