27 Mar THE POWER TO SURVIVE

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 a dry wine.
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 we choose,
is to understand the message of the Arba
Kosos. A true connoisseur is not one who
discerns between sweet and dry wines, but
one who recognizes the subtle kindness of
HaShem in every chapter of life.
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 Siyata Dishmaya,

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 travel on 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 us to say Hodu L’HaShem Ki Tov,
Thank You HaShem, for it is good.
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 four imahos
transmits to us a different
life lesson.
The Shelah HaKodosh connects each of the
imahos to a different one of the four kosos.
Sora – Kiddush, the first kos. As the seder
begins, 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 emuna, 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 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. Hoda’ah, 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. In fact, when we say Hallel as a part
of our tefilla, we begin with the bracha
“Likro es hahallel…. To recite Hallel.”
Interestingly, the first letters of the words
Likro es hahallel – lamed, aleph, hei, form
the name Leah. This connection highlights
the spiritual theme of hoda’ah, gratitude,

which paved the way for future generations
to recite Hallel.
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, as found in Sefer
Shemos, 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 yet 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.
Throughout 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 tranquility, with the
coming of Moshiach.