Parshat HaChodesh: When Does the Obligation to Recount the Story Begin?

As we approach Shabbat Hachodesh and the arrival of Rosh Chodesh Nissan next Tuesday, I am reminded of a strange paragraph in the Haggadah:

יכול מראש חודש, תלמוד לומר ״ביום ההוא.״ אי ביום ההוא, יכול מבעוד יום. תלמוד לומר ״בעבור זה.״ בעבור זה לא אמרתי אלא בשעה שיש מצה ומרור מונחים לפניך.

“One might think that the obligation to recount the story of the Exodus from Egypt begins from the first day of the month of Nissan. However, the Torah states, “on that day.” “On that day” might be understood to mean while it is still daylight, therefore, the text specifies “it is because of this.” I can say “it is because of this” only at such time when the matzah and marror are in front of you.

I find this challenging to understand -- why would one ever think the obligation to recount the story starts on Rosh Chodesh? From the time we are small children, we are taught that we celebrate Pesach to commemorate the way the Jews left Egypt in haste on the 15th of Nissan, not letting their bread rise and taking it in the form of Matzah. It was the 15th! Why would we think this obligation begins two weeks earlier?

Let’s explore a few approaches to understand this:

1. The Talmud teaches us the concept of שואלין ודורשין; that there is special halacha on Pesach to start preparing to learn the laws of Pesach in advance of the holiday. Due to the complexities of the laws, we need to get a head start. We have the practice to begin studying the laws thirty days beforehand, but the Torah tells us (Shemot 12:2) that Moshe relayed the first commandment in the Torah, of Rosh Chodesh, with Rosh Chodesh Nissan; that he told the Jewish people they should join together to bring the Korban Pesach, and so he prepared them with all the laws of Pesach. So perhaps we might have thought that if we were already preparing, we might already be obligated to tell the story of the Exodus.

2. There are some commentaries that say the redemption actually began on Rosh Chodesh. With that understanding, we can well understand why we might think the obligation to recount the story of the Exodus should begin as well.

3. In a similar fashion, if we take a strict reading of the text, the Torah says (Shemot 13:5) וְעָבַדְתָּ אֶת-הָעֲבֹדָה הַזֹּאת, בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה, in introducing the obligation to keep the holiday of Pesach, the Torah says and you will perform this service “in this month.” Perhaps we have to do it all month, starting on Rosh Chodesh.

4. זכור את יום השבת – זכר ליציאת מצרים – There is a mitzvah to “remember the Shabbat,” with similar language for the daily mitzvah to “remember the Exodus from Egypt.” When it comes to Shabbat we fulfill the mitzvah of Zachor during the week by always thinking about and planning for Shabbat. We refer to weekdays in their relation to Shabbat, היום יום               בשבת, we shop all week for food for Shabbat, etc. If so, perhaps remembering the Exodus also begins before the actual holiday, i.e. from Rosh Chodesh.

We have determined there are some reasons why we might have thought the obligation begins on Rosh Chodesh. It is for that reason the Torah says ״ביום ההוא.״ – the obligation doesn’t begin on Rosh Chodesh, but “on the day.” of the Exodus, or the 15th of Nissan.  But why would we think this obligation begins while it is still daylight on the 14th?

Rabbi Tzvi Sobolovsky suggests that perhaps Pesach is like all other Shabbatot and Yomim Tovim, where you can accept them early, while it is still daylight. But the Haggadah is teaching us that Pesach is different. It is the only holiday we cannot bring in early. We learn from the words בעבור זה that we cannot fulfill the obligation until the matzah and marror are in front of us at night. Pesach is a holiday at night. Consider that most other holidays have their main celebration by day (Shofar, Lulav, Megillah, Seudat Purim and Mishloach Manot, etc.), but Pesach is a night holiday. The redemption was at night, so our obligation is at night. (CLICK HERE for an explanation of why we are obligated to wait until dark to say Kiddush at the Seder, while we do not have to wait on Shabbat.)

In conclusion, it all comes down to the Seder night, as that is when the obligations begin and when we need to be prepared to recount the story of the Exodus from Egypt. Let the consideration of this paragraph in the Haggadah inspire us to get a head start and get prepared for the seder so that we can maximize our family’s experience.