16 Apr THE TRUE CONNOISSEUR

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.