As we get ready for Pesach, we continue with another Haggadah- related thought.
One of the four sons is the Rasha/wicked one, who says, “What is this work to you?”
When he says, “to you,” he excludes himself, which means he excludes himself from the Jewish people and denies the fundamental of Judaism. Therefore, we are to “blunt his teeth and tell him that had he been there ( in Mitzrayim) he would not have been redeemed.” He is considered a Kofer, a denier of God.
What exactly did he do?
He didn’t say that he didn’t not want to keep Mitzvot. He just did not make himself part of the group. And based on that, he becomes a rasha.
What is the source for this concept, that a person can be called a rasha just because he separates himself from Klal Yisrael?
Rambam, in Hilchot Teshuva (chapter 3) says,
הפורש מדרכי צבור ואף על פי שלא עבר עבירות אלא נבדל מעדת ישראל ואינו עושה מצות בכללן ולא נכנס בצרתן ולא מתענה בתעניתן אלא הולך בדרכו כאחד מגויי הארץ וכאילו אינו מהן אין לו חלק לעולם הבא
Someone that separates from the ways of the group and the ways of the Jewish people , even if he doesn’t do any sins (i.e he eats kosher and keeps Shabbat), if doesn’t do Mitzvot as a part of the group, and doesn’t enter into their pain, doesn’t fast along with them when they fast, he acts like any other nation that doesn’t belong to the Jewish people (he acts like he is on his own island) he’s a Jew who keeps the Mitzvot but he doesn’t act like he’s part of the Jewish nation-
the Rambam says, אין לו חלק לעולם הבא
He does not have a portion in the world to come.
We see from here a tremendous concept: The Jewish religion is not about keeping Mitzvot. It’s about keeping Mitzvot as part of the Jewish people. Therefore, not doing so is what makes a rasha.
The rasha of the Haggadah eats kosher; he keeps chalav yisrael, yashan, bet Yosef and everything else…and his wife can wear 3 wigs! But it doesn’t make a difference.
If you are not part of the Jewish people, you aren’t part of God.
You have no portion in the world to come.
When describing who is a part of the Klal, the Rambam uses the words נכנס בצרתן /You enter their problems. You make their problems your problems. If they are having a fast day, you fast with them.
That is called being part of Klal Yisrael. It is not just about Torah and Mitzvot. It is about feeling their pain, and being a part of them. And not doing so is what makes the Rasha.
Therefore, as we get ready for Pesach, our job is to become more and more part of Klal Yisrael.
Have a wonderful day.