By Rabbi Yosef Shemtov
We start the Pesach Seder by saying, “ha lachma aniya.” “This is the poor man’s bread to remember that our forefathers were slaves in Egypt and the Almighty saved us from there.”
But why do we continue saying: whoever is hungry, come and eat and whoever needs to do Pesach, come and join us and then next year we will be free in the land of Israel?
Why should it mention inviting guests in the beginning of the Seder?
To answer this question, we need to know in what merit Benei Israel found their prayers accepted after so long in slavery.
Midrash states that Benei Israel decided to do kind acts for each other. They said the only way that we will be able to go free is when we care about each other. And indeed the Almighty saw that and sent Moshe Rabeinu to save them.
On the night of the Seder, we remind ourselves that kindness is the key to salvation. That’s why we make the announcement about having guests in the beginning of the Seder, even though we already invited them beforehand: to emphasize that in the merit of caring about each other we also will be freed from this present gallut and have zekhoot of seeing Mashiach.
On behalf of Yachad Kollel, I would like to wish all of you a Chag Kosher and a meaningful Pesach.