מצוה להודיע לבנים.. לפי דעתו של בן אביו מלמדו

בא

Then ה' said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh. For I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his courtiers, in order that I may display these My signs among them, and that you may recount in the hearing of your child and of your child’s child how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and how I displayed My signs among them—in order that you may know that I am ה'.” So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says ה', the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go that they may worship Me. For if you refuse to let My people go, tomorrow I will bring locusts on your territory.

שמות י״ג:ג׳-י׳

Exodus 13:3-10

And Moses said to the people,“Remember this day, on which you went free from Egypt, the house of bondage, how ה' freed you from it with a mighty hand: no leavened bread shall be eaten. You go free on this day, in the month of Abib. So, when ה' has brought you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which was sworn to your fathers to be given you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall observe in this month the following practice: “Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a festival of ה'. Throughout the seven days unleavened bread shall be eaten; no leavened bread shall be found with you, and no leaven shall be found in all your territory. And you shall explain to your child on that day, ‘It is because of what ה' did for me when I went free from Egypt.’ “And this shall serve you as a sign on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead —in order that the Teaching of ה' may be in your mouth—that with a mighty hand ה' freed you from Egypt. You shall keep this institution at its set time from year to year.

משנה תורה, הלכות חמץ ומצה ז׳:א׳-ד׳

א.

מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה שֶׁל תּוֹרָה לְסַפֵּר בְּנִסִּים וְנִפְלָאוֹת שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בְּמִצְרַיִם בְּלֵיל חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בְּנִיסָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יג ג) "זָכוֹר אֶת הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר יְצָאתֶם מִמִּצְרַיִם" כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כ ח) "זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת". וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁבְּלֵיל חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (שמות יג ח) "וְהִגַּדְתָּ לְבִנְךָ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לֵאמֹר בַּעֲבוּר זֶה" בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ מַצָּה וּמָרוֹר מֻנָּחִים לְפָנֶיךָ. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ בֵּן. אֲפִלּוּ חֲכָמִים גְּדוֹלִים חַיָּבִים לְסַפֵּר בִּיצִיאַת מִצְרִים וְכָל הַמַּאֲרִיךְ בִּדְבָרִים שֶׁאֵרְעוּ וְשֶׁהָיוּ הֲרֵי זֶה מְשֻׁבָּח:

ב.

מִצְוָה לְהוֹדִיעַ לַבָּנִים וַאֲפִלּוּ לֹא שָׁאֲלוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יג ח) "וְהִגַּדְתָּ לְבִנְךָ". לְפִי דַּעְתּוֹ שֶׁל בֵּן אָבִיו מְלַמְּדוֹ. כֵּיצַד. אִם הָיָה קָטָן אוֹ טִפֵּשׁ אוֹמֵר לוֹ בְּנִי כֻּלָּנוּ הָיִינוּ עֲבָדִים כְּמוֹ שִׁפְחָה זוֹ אוֹ כְּמוֹ עֶבֶד זֶה בְּמִצְרַיִם וּבַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה פָּדָה אוֹתָנוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וַיּוֹצִיאֵנוּ לְחֵרוּת. וְאִם הָיָה הַבֵּן גָּדוֹל וְחָכָם מוֹדִיעוֹ מַה שֶּׁאֵרַע לָנוּ בְּמִצְרַיִם וְנִסִּים שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ לָנוּ עַל יְדֵי משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ הַכֹּל לְפִי דַּעְתּוֹ שֶׁל בֵּן:

ג.

וְצָרִיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת שִׁנּוּי בַּלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּרְאוּ הַבָּנִים וְיִשְׁאֲלוּ וְיֹאמְרוּ מַה נִּשְׁתַּנָּה הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה מִכָּל הַלֵּילוֹת עַד שֶׁיָּשִׁיב לָהֶם וְיֹאמַר לָהֶם כָּךְ וְכָךְ אֵרַע וְכָךְ וְכָךְ הָיָה. וְכֵיצַד מְשַׁנֶּה. מְחַלֵּק לָהֶם קְלָיוֹת וֶאֱגוֹזִים וְעוֹקְרִים הַשֻּׁלְחָן מִלִּפְנֵיהֶם קֹדֶם שֶׁיֹּאכְלוּ וְחוֹטְפִין מַצָּה זֶה מִיַּד זֶה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בִּדְבָרִים הָאֵלּוּ. אֵין לוֹ בֵּן אִשְׁתּוֹ שׁוֹאַלְתּוֹ. אֵין לוֹ אִשָּׁה שׁוֹאֲלִין זֶה אֶת זֶה מַה נִּשְׁתַּנָּה הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה. וַאֲפִלּוּ הָיוּ כֻּלָּן חֲכָמִים. הָיָה לְבַדּוֹ שׁוֹאֵל לְעַצְמוֹ מַה נִּשְׁתַּנָּה הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה:

ד.

וְצָרִיךְ לְהַתְחִיל בִּגְנוּת וּלְסַיֵּם בְּשֶׁבַח. כֵּיצַד. מַתְחִיל וּמְסַפֵּר שֶׁבַּתְּחִלָּה הָיוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ בִּימֵי תֶּרַח וּמִלְּפָנָיו כּוֹפְרִים וְטוֹעִין אַחַר הַהֶבֶל וְרוֹדְפִין אַחַר עֲבוֹדַת אֱלִילִים. וּמְסַיֵּם בְּדַת הָאֱמֶת שֶׁקֵּרְבָנוּ הַמָּקוֹם לוֹ וְהִבְדִּילָנוּ מֵהָאֻמּוֹת וְקֵרְבָנוּ לְיִחוּדוֹ. וְכֵן מַתְחִיל וּמוֹדִיעַ שֶׁעֲבָדִים הָיִינוּ לְפַרְעֹה בְּמִצְרַיִם וְכָל הָרָעָה שֶׁגְּמָלָנוּ וּמְסַיֵּם בַּנִּסִּים וּבַנִּפְלָאוֹת שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ לָנוּ וּבְחֵרוּתֵנוּ. וְהוּא שֶׁיִּדְרשׁ מֵ(דברים כו ה) "אֲרַמִּי אֹבֵד אָבִי" עַד שֶׁיִּגְמֹר כָּל הַפָּרָשָׁה. וְכָל הַמּוֹסִיף וּמַאֲרִיךְ בִּדְרַשׁ פָּרָשָׁה זוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה מְשֻׁבָּח:

Mishneh Torah, Leavened and Unleavened Bread 7:1-4

It is a positive commandment of the Torah to relate the miracles and wonders wrought for our ancestors in Egypt on the night of the fifteenth of Nisan, as [Exodus 13:3] states: "Remember this day, on which you left Egypt," just as [Exodus 20:8] states: "Remember the Sabbath day."
From where [is it derived that this mitzvah is to be fulfilled on] the night of the fifteenth? The Torah teaches [Exodus 13:8]: "And you shall tell your son on that day, saying: 'It is because of this...' [implying that the mitzvah is to be fulfilled] when matzah and maror are placed before you.
[The mitzvah applies] even though one does not have a son. Even great Sages are obligated to tell about the Exodus from Egypt. Whoever elaborates concerning the events which occurred and took place is worthy of praise. It is a mitzvah to inform one's sons even though they do not ask, as [Exodus 13:8] states: "You shall tell your son."
A father should teach his son according to the son's knowledge: How is this applied? If the son is young or foolish, he should tell him: "My son, in Egypt, we were all slaves like this maidservant or this slave. On this night, the Holy One, Blessed be He, redeemed us and took us out to freedom."
If the son is older and wise, he should inform him what happened to us in Egypt and the miracles wrought for us by Moses, our teacher; everything according to the son's knowledge. He should make changes on this night so that the children will see and will [be motivated to] ask: "Why is this night different from all other nights?" until he replies to them: "This and this occurred; this and this took place."
What changes should be made? He should give them roasted seeds and nuts; the table should be taken away before they eat; matzot should be snatched from each other and the like.
When a person does not have a son, his wife should ask him. If he does not have a wife, [he and a colleague] should ask each other: "Why is this night different?" This applies even if they are all wise. A person who is alone should ask himself: "Why is this night different?" One must begin [the narrative describing our ancestors'] base [roots] and conclude with [their] praise. What does this imply? One begins relating how originally, in the age of Terach, our ancestors denied [God's existence] and strayed after vanity, pursuing idol worship. One concludes with the true faith: how the Omnipresent has drawn us close to Him, separated us from the gentiles, and drawn us near to His Oneness.
Similarly, one begins by stating that we were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt and [describing] all the evil done to us, and concludes with the miracles and wonders that were wrought upon us, and our freedom.
This [implies] that one should extrapolate [the passage beginning] from [Deuteronomy 26:5]: "An Aramean sought to destroy my ancestor..." until one concludes the entire passage. Whoever adds and extends his extrapolation of this passage is praiseworthy.

ברכות מ׳ א:י״ד

דְּתַנְיָא: אִילָן שֶׁאָכַל מִמֶּנּוּ אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: גֶּפֶן הָיָה, שֶׁאֵין לְךָ דָּבָר שֶׁמֵּבִיא יְלָלָה עַל הָאָדָם אֶלָּא יַיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֵּשְׁתְּ מִן הַיַּיִן וַיִּשְׁכָּר״. רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אוֹמֵר: תְּאֵנָה הָיְתָה, שֶׁבַּדָּבָר שֶׁנִּתְקַלְקְלוּ בּוֹ נִתַּקְּנוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּתְפְּרוּ עֲלֵה תְאֵנָה״. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: חִטָּה הָיְתָה, שֶׁאֵין הַתִּינוֹק יוֹדֵעַ לִקְרוֹת ״אַבָּא״ וְ״אִמָּא״ עַד שֶׁיִּטְעוֹם טַעַם דָּגָן.

Berakhot 40a:14

We learned in the mishna: One who recited: Who creates fruit of the tree, over fruits of the earth, did not fulfill his obligation. The Gemara asks: That is obvious, as fruits of the earth do not fall under the rubric of trees. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: This ruling in the mishna is only necessary according to the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, who said in another context that wheat is a type of tree, as we learned in a baraita: The tree from which Adam, the first man, ate, Rabbi Meir says: It was a vine, as nothing brings wailing and trouble upon man even today other than wine, as it is stated with regard to Noah: “And he drank from the wine and became drunk” (Genesis 9:21). Rabbi Neḥemya says: It was a fig tree, as with the object with which they were corrupted and sinned they were rehabilitated, as it is stated: “And they sewed together fig leaves and made for themselves loincloths” (Genesis 3:7). They must have taken the leaves from the tree closest at hand, the Tree of Knowledge. Rabbi Yehuda says: It was wheat, as, even today, the child does not know how to call his father and mother until he tastes the taste of grain.

ספר הזהר, תצוה ט׳:ע״ג-ע״ה

הַשְׁתָּא אִית לָן לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא, בַּפֶּסַח נָפְקוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִנָּהֲמָא דְּאִתְקְרֵי חָמֵץ...

אֶלָּא, לְמַלְכָּא דְּהֲוָה לֵיהּ בַּר יְחִידָאי, וְחָלַשׁ. יוֹמָא חַד הֲוָה תָּאִיב לְמֵיכַל, אָמְרוּ יֵיכוּל בְּרֵיהּ דְּמַלְכָּא (ס"א מיכלא דאסוותא דא) אַסְוָותָא דָּא, וְעַד דְּיֵיכוּל לֵיהּ, לָא יִשְׁתְּכַּח מֵיכְלָא וּמְזוֹנָא אַחֲרָא בְּבֵיתָא. עָבְדוּ הָכִי. כֵּיוָן דְּאָכַל הַהוּא אַסְוָותָא, אָמַר מִכָּאן וּלְהָלְאָה יֵיכוּל כָּל מָה דְּאִיהוּ תָּאִיב, וְלָא יָכִיל לְנַזְקָא לֵיהּ.

כַּךָ כַּד נָפְקוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם, לָא הֲוֵי יַדְעֵי עִקָרָא וְרָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא, אָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, יִטְעֲמוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל אַסְוָותָא, וְעַד דְּיֵיכְלוּן אַסְוָותָא דָּא, לָא אִתְחָזֵי לְהוֹן מֵיכְלָא אַחֲרָא. כֵּיוָן דְּאָכְלוּ מַצָּה, דְּאִיהִי אַסְוָותָא לְמֵיעַל וּלְמִנְדַּע בְּרָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא...

Zohar, Tetzaveh 9:73-75

Now we need to examine this - on Passover Israel is removed from the bread that is called chametz (leavened), as it is written (Exodus 13:7) "and you shall not see any leavened bread", and it is written (Exodus 12:19), "for anyone who eats leavening etc." What is the reason for this? Because of the preciousness of that bread which is called matzah. For now that Israel has merited a more elevated form of bread, is it not therefore appropriate to do away with chametz and make it completely invisible? But why, then, does this offering [on Shavuot] include chametz? As it is written, (Leviticus 23:17) "it shall be a measure of choice flour, baked with leavening." And furthermore, on this day when the evil inclination is vanquished, and the Torah - which is called "freedom" - is present? Rather, it can be likened to a King who had a single son who grew weak. One day he had a desire to eat. They said "let the King's son eat this healing food, and as long as he eats it, let no other kinds of food and nourishment be found throughout the house." And thus they did. After [the son] ate this healing food, [the King] said, "from this point and onward he can eat whatever he desires and it will not be able to harm him." So too, when Israel left Egypt they did not know the primary root and secret of faith. The Holy Blessed One said, "let Israel taste this healing food, and as long as they eat this healing food they shall not see any other kinds of food." Once they ate the matzah, which provided them the healing to enter into and know the secret of faith, the Holy Blessed One said, "from here and onward, they can see and eat chametz, for it can no longer harm them." And all the more so on the day of Shavuot, when the supernal bread is provided which offers healing from all;

בני יששכר, ניסן ה׳:ו׳:ב׳

ותתבונן לפי"ז מ"ש הש"י למען תספר באזני בנך ובן בנך את אשר התעללתי וכו' דהנה יש להתבונן למה יהי' בחיוב לספר לבן בנו הלא אביו יספ' לו: אך הוא דהנה בן. ובן הבן. הנה הבן הוא גדול. ובן הבן הוא קטן ממנו. הנה להורות הנס המופלג אשר נעש' בגבהי מרומים גדלו' קודם לקטנות הנה חובה ומצוה עלינו לספר לבן (הגדול קוד' ואח"כ) לבן הבן (שהוא קטן) ופירשתי במקומו שארית הפסו' את אשר התעללתי וכו' ויראתי להרחי' הדבור כאן:

Bnei Yissaschar, Nisan 5:6:2

...

קידושין ל׳ א:ז׳

וְהָתַנְיָא וְלִמַּדְתֶּם אֹתָם אֶת בְּנֵיכֶם וְלֹא בְּנֵי בְנֵיכֶם וּמָה אֲנִי מְקַיֵּים וְהוֹדַעְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ וְלִבְנֵי בָנֶיךָ לוֹמַר לָךְ שֶׁכׇּל הַמְלַמֵּד אֶת בְּנוֹ תּוֹרָה מַעֲלֶה עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב כְּאִילּוּ לִמְּדוֹ לוֹ וְלִבְנוֹ וּלְבֶן בְּנוֹ עַד סוֹף כׇּל הַדּוֹרוֹת

Kiddushin 30a:7

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: Anyone who teaches his son’s son Torah, the verse ascribes him credit as though he received it from Mount Sinai, as it is stated: “But make them known to your sons and to your sons’ sons,” and juxtaposed to it is the phrase in the verse: “The day when you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb” (Deuteronomy 4:10), as Horeb is Mount Sinai.

קידושין ל׳ א:ו׳-ז׳

אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי כׇּל הַמְלַמֵּד אֶת בֶּן בְּנוֹ תּוֹרָה מַעֲלֶה עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב כְּאִילּוּ קִבְּלָהּ מֵהַר סִינַי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְהוֹדַעְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ וְלִבְנֵי בָנֶיךָ וּסְמִיךְ לֵיהּ יוֹם אֲשֶׁר עָמַדְתָּ לִפְנֵי ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ בְּחֹרֵב

Kiddushin 30a:6-7

The Gemara answers that the tanna of this baraita stated his opinion in accordance with the opinion of that tanna, as it is taught in another baraita: From the verse “And you shall teach them to your sons” I have derived only that you must teach your sons. From where do I derive that there is an obligation to teach your sons’ sons? The verse states: “But make them known to your sons and to your sons’ sons.” If so, what is the meaning when the verse states: “Your sons” (Deuteronomy 11:19), which implies only sons? This limitation teaches: Your sons, but not your daughters. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: Anyone who teaches his son’s son Torah, the verse ascribes him credit as though he received it from Mount Sinai, as it is stated: “But make them known to your sons and to your sons’ sons,” and juxtaposed to it is the phrase in the verse: “The day when you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb” (Deuteronomy 4:10), as Horeb is Mount Sinai.