Published March 25, 2010
As we approach the holiday of Pesach, we remind ourselves of the nearing celebration of our freedom as slaves in Egypt. One aspect of the Seder that enables us to remember that freedom is the practice of eating while in a reclining position (HASEIBA).
The Sages learn the source for this practice from a pasuk (Shmot Rabba 20), “When G-d circled (VAYASEIV) the people around in the desert.” The Rabbis learn from this pasuk that even the poor in Israel should always eat at the Seder in a Reclining position (SHEYESHEB) learning from the same root as the word VAYEISEV - encircle.
Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik zt"l could not understand the connection between G-d circling the Jewish people in the desert to the ancient ritual of Reclining at the Seder.
The Rav went on to explain that according to Rashi, we recline on Pesach to remember the freedom that the Jewish people embraced this night. However, this seems an impossible mission for a poor individual. This individual who has so many other concerns at the moment financially and monetary, how can he even begin to feel freedom now?
We therefore must look at the Seventh day of Pesach for the answer. This last day of Pesach seems to be the apex, the culmination of such a successful holiday. Yet, looking deeper, we are far from the culmination on this last day of Pesach. The Jewish people find themselves crossing the Red Sea, entering a desert for forty years - not an end of a journey but rather a beginning of one. There is a gap between the promises we received of true redemption until its fulfillment. This is the destiny of our people. Eisav received their land immediately after being promised and we have to wait.
Now we can understand why the Reclining represents freedom as mentioned by the Midrash. It does not symbolize actual freedom but rather the “Belief” and confidence that even though we must wait, we are sure that the deliverance will come, just like our being “circled” by G-d in the desert. That is why the same root is used from circling to reclining.
In many different generations our people have suffered, but on the Seder night we try to fulfill the words “In every generation one is obligated to show himself as if he were redeemed” - We must all show with great confidence, even the poor amongst us because G-d encircled us in desert and we did finally receive our redemption. This is the meaning of Reclining - HASEIBA.
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