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By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin
It’s almost Pesach, so much to plan, so much to prepare. On our to-do list is purchasing wine for the seder. Some like it sweet, others appreciate the dry wine taste.
The connoisseurs amongst us are busy selecting their bottles, and for some it means a different choice for each of the Arba Kosos, the Four Cups.
More important than which wine when, is to understand the message of the Arba Kosos.
The number four is highlighted several times during the seder. Four cups, four questions, four sons. The Gemara in Brachos tells us that there are four instances that would require a person to recite a Birchas Gomel, the Thanksgiving Blessing. One who crosses an ocean or a desert, one who recovers from a serious illness, and one who is released from prison or captivity. All come with hazards, and all are situations where one needs HaShem’s help. These four occurrences are also alluded to in Chapter 107 of Tehillim, the Chapter of Hodu L’HaShem Ki Tov, Give thanks to HaShem, for He is good. “They wandered in the wilderness…. They sat in darkness, and the shadow of death, shackled in affliction and iron… He would send forth His word and cure them (from illness)….. Those who go down to the sea in ships…”
The generation of the Exodus endured all four experiences. They were freed from the prison of Egypt. They crossed the sea, and trekked through the desert. And, when they stood at Sinai, they were cured from all illness.
With each of the four cups on seder night, it’s proper to not only recall the miraculous Exodus, but also reflect upon instances in our own lives when HaShem brought us healing, recovery and saving. Instances that compel to say Hodu L’HaShem Ki Tov.
Our avos and imahos, our patriarchs and matriarchs are always with us. At the seder, the three matzohs remind us of our three avos, Avrohom, Yitzchok and Yaakov, while the four cups of wine recall our imahos, Sora, Rivka, Rochel and Leah.
Chazal teach that it was in the merit of the nashim tzidkonios, the righteous women, that our ancestors were redeemed from Egypt. Righteous women who followed in the path of our imahos. Each one of the imahos transmits to us a different life lesson.
The Shelah HaKodosh connects each of the imahos to a different kos.
Sora – Kiddush, the first kos. We say “asher kid’shanu b’mitzvosav, to be sanctified with HaShem’s mitzvos, to live as kedoshim. Sora was the mother who brought so many under the wings of HaShem, teaching them to live with sanctity. Her life was one of emunah, creating the spiritual DNA that has been passed down from generation to generation to this very day.
Rivka – In the recitation of the Haggadah leading up to the second kos, we recall the story of Lavan, Rivka’s brother. Rivka’s abandonment of her lifestyle in Aram teaches us that us that everyone has the power to change the course of their lives. She left everything behind in order to marry Yitzchak, and become a matriarch of Am Yisroel.
Rochel – The third kos. The kos which follows Birchas Hamazon, Grace after Meals. “Rochel mevakeh al boneha, Rochel cries for her children”. Her heart is with Am Yisroel. A lesson she taught her son Yosef, to feel for others. It was Yosef who was concerned about providing “mazon”, food for his entire extended family. We think of Rochel and Yosef, and the lesson of caring, as we recite Birchas Hamazon.
Leah – the fourth and final kos. At the birth of her fourth son, whom she named Yehuda, Leah proclaimed “hapaam odeh es HaShem, this time I will thank HaShem”. Yehuda, a name that expresses gratitude. Hodaah, to acknowledge the good. As we conclude the seder by singing the words of Hallel, words of praise and thanks to HaShem, we are reminded of Leah.
Teachings of our imahos. Teachings of the Haggadah, teachings we should strive to make a part of our very being.
An additional teaching is that each cup relates to one of the four leshonos of geulah, expressions of redemption, depicting HaShem’s saving Bnei Yisroel from the pain of Egyptian subjugation.
“Vehotzeisi – and I will take you from the suffering of Egypt.” HaShem’s saving our ancestors from the mental anguish and loss of dignity endured while being enslaved.
“Vehitzalti – and I will rescue you from their labor.” This refers to the hard, grueling, back-breaking labor that Bnei Yisroel was subjected to in Mitzrayim.
“Vegoalti – I will redeem you with an outstretched arm.” HaShem’s taking Bnei Yisroel out of Egypt with wonders and miracles.
“Velokachti – and I shall take you to be My people.” To be HaShem’s nation. HaShem brought us to Sinai, and gave us the gift of His Torah.
Gracing each seder table, there is one more cup, the fifth cup, the cup of Eliyahu HaNavi. This is the cup of “veheiveisi, and I will bring you to the land”. The land of Eretz Yisroel. The promise of veheiveisi, and I will bring you, has yet to be fulfilled. Throughput our history, our nation has survived threat after threat to its existence. Threats we are once again living through today. As we gaze upon the Kos shel Eliyahu, the “untasted” cup, we should have in mind acheinu kol Beis Yisroel, our brothers, the entire House of Israel – no matter where they are – may they be protected and safe. May Eliyahu HaNavi watch over them. May it be this year that we realize the true meaning of veheiveisi, that HaShem will bring all of us to Eretz Yisroel, to live together in peace and harmony, with the coming of Moshiach.
Wishing all my readers
Shabbat Shalom
and a Chag Kosher V’Sameach!
Chaya Sora
Chaya Sora can be reached at [email protected]
This article was written L’zecher Nishmas/In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l
