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Rashi cites Chazal who place emphasis on the word ,mjf, approximately midnight, which implies either before midnight or after it. Moshe did not specify exactly midnight lest Pharaoh’s astrologers say, “Moshe is a liar.” The simple interpretation of Chazal is that if Moshe is inaccurate by even one minute, this would give Pharaoh’s advisors license to destroy Moshe’s credibility.  This is incredible!  If all of the firstborn of Egypt were to die as Moshe had predicted, but it happened one minute past the prescribed time, would that have been sufficient cause to deny Moshe’s veracity? Horav Eliyahu Meir Bloch z.l.,…

It is noteworthy that Hashem’s passing-over the houses of Bnei Yisrael is the source for the name of the festival of Pesach, as well as the sacrifice offered on this holiday. If one were to look at all of the miracles which took place in Egypt up to and including the exodus from Egypt, the “passing-over” might not seem quite as remarkable.  Why, then, is it so distinctly represented in the name and motif of the festival? Horav Yeruchum Levovitz z.l., offers a profound insight into the matter. The most significant component of the Exodus, which can be credited solely…

The Midrash records a distinctive question asked by R. Elazar. He inquires concerning the necessity for the requirement of the Korban Pesach prior to Am Yisrael’s leaving Egypt.  Surely there must have been other mitzvos which would have merited Am Yisrael’s redemption. Indeed, Chazal single out four specific mitzvos for which Am Yisrael merited deliverance. They were morally clean; they spoke no lashon hora; they possessed Jewish pride, retaining their Hebrew names; and they maintained the culture, not changing their national language. Why then was the Korban Pesach an essential prerequisite for their geu’lah, redemption? Chazal respond that they were…