Q:
Why does the Rav think that going to a hotel for Pesach is such a big sin? A lot of gedolim do it.
A:
I don’t believe that gedolim do it. And what is the terrible chet of going to a hotel for Pesach? I think I told you already. Pesach night, everybody knows, is one of the most sacred nights in Jewish life. The fact is, why do painters portray that scene more than any other subject? It’s because the Jewish nation understands that Pesach night is a sacred event. And to cheapen it by commercialism and community sedarim is a sacrilege. If some people go, it’s because they’re plain sick; they’re invalids. And if you find people who are not sick and they go, you have to know that they are not gedolim, they are far from gedolim. They are Americanized, and the word gedolim doesn’t apply to them at all.
TAPE # 33 (June 1973)
Q:
What’s the reason for the minhag to eat matzoh balls on Pesach?
A:
This man here is asking why we eat matzoh kneidelech on Pesach. Well, first of all, not everybody eats it, so I’m not speaking for everybody. But as far as those who do, what’s the reason for eating it? Because it tastes good.
TAPE # 779 (March 1990)
Q:
Who is the author of the Hagaddah?
A:
And the answer is, who is the author of the Medrash Rabbah or of the Shas? The Jewish people. The hagaddah was created by the Jewish people. It’s not one author. It’s a number of things that were said by many, and it grew by accretion.
And it’s still growing. Because although today nobody has the audacity to insert new parts into the printed text, but peirushim and additions are growing by leaps and bounds. Haghadahs today are like mushrooms after a rain – there are all kinds sprouting. And it’s not a bad idea to grace your table with all kinds because it’ll make it more interesting. But that’s the authorship. The authorship is the Jewish people.
TAPE # 166 (April 1976)
Q:
Why is it that when we open the door for Eliyahu, that’s when we say שפוך חמתך אל הגוים – “Hashem, pour out Your wrath on the nations”?
A:
Listen to me. The mother went out shopping, and while the mother was away the bigger boy was bullying the little one. So as soon as the door opens and the mother comes in, the little one runs over to his mother and is pulling on her skirt, “Ma could you deal with him? Hit him, hit him.”
Eliyahu is coming to usher in the era of justice. And so as he comes in the door, we run over to him and we’re saying שפוך חמתך, hit them; hit the nations that have tortured and killed us.”
TAPE # 26 (April 1973)
