5785/2025
After a long meaningful Seder reliving the story of Mitzrayim and feeling the transition from Avdut to Cheirut, we sing Chad Gadya, a song about a “little goat” which seems to be entirely irrelevant and meaningless. Why is it necessary to end our Sedarim in this way? What is the meaning of this song?
Rav Jonathan Sacks explains that just as we start our Seder with the children asking Mah Nishtanah, so too we end our seders with this “nursery rhyme.” To pass on our faith, we do not require strength and power, rather we must inspire our children. We do this by making them a part of the Seder. Rav Sacks goes on to give a deeper understanding. The goat being eaten by the cat can be connected to the story of Yosef being sold into slavery by his brothers. When they wanted Yaakov to believe that Yosef was murdered by a wild beast they dipped his colorful coat in the blood of a goat
“VaYikchu Et-Ketonet Yosef VaYishchatu Seir Ezim VaYitvalu Et-HaKetonet BaDam” (BeReishit 37:31). And after the Pasuk says. “VaYakumu Kol Banav V’Chol Benotav LeNachmo VayeMain LeHetNachem” (Bereishit 37:35). This was because Yaakov Avinu never gave up hope that his beloved son, Yosef, would come back. By refusing his children’s comfort, Yaakov was holding on to hope for Yosef’s return. Similarly, Chad Gadya shows Am Yisrael’s refusal to give up hope. We maintain Emunah in Hashem throughout history. The connection between Yosef and the goat from Chad Gadya is very fitting, because not only were they both attacked but they both leave a similar legacy. Yosef’s story doesn’t end after getting sold, and it doesn’t end after he became very successful in Mitzrayim. It only ends when Hashem takes Am Yisrael to Eretz Yisrael and doesn't forget us. So too, the little goat represents Am Yisrael and even after it was killed, at the end of the song Hashem eventually kills the Malach HaMavet redeeming his little goat, Am Yisrael. This teaches us that Hashem does everything for a reason. Even in the toughest of times, we should understand that Hashem has a reason for every situation he puts us in.
Rav Adin Steinsaltz has a different take on this song. He says similar to Rav Sacks that Chad Gadya was made to keep everyone at the seder, especially the kids, awake to end the seder with the feeling of happiness and joy. Rav Steinsaltz gives a profound inner meaning which provides a greater insight to Chad Gadya. This song represents the different powers of the world fighting each other and taking control over one another. Acts of wickedness and evil do not go unpunished. In Yemot HaMashiach, all this wickedness is removed from the world. This refers not only to our enemies but to us as well. Before you act, think about how Hashem will pay you back. We bear this in mind when deciding whether to do something praiseworthy like Chesed or something negative and fall down the wrong path like saying Lashon Harah. At the end of the day, Hashem is not looking to punish us and He wants us to act to the best of our abilities. May we all act in this way, following in the way of Hashem, and next year we will be celebrating Pesach in Yerushalayim.
חג פסח שמח!