With this being the last post before Pesach, I thought we would take a quick look under the hood and see if we can discover what it is that drives the actual Yom Tov itself. What is the underlying message and main takeaway of Pesach… and is there a song that can gain new meaning with the accompanying insight?

To be honest, it didn’t take me long to decide which song I wanted to feature here – it happens to be a worldwide hit and comes from one of my all-time favorite records. (If you don’t believe me, just ask me!) However, before we introduce this sentimental song, let’s quickly try to gain some appreciation for the spirit and significance of the words contained within.

The fact that the order of operations on Pesach Night is called “The Seder” means that one is not the least bit surprised to find out that there is a very specific procedure that dominates the night’s proceedings. One action leads to the next. The structure of the Haggadah proves to be quite systematic and sequential in nature. It leads us through a script of paragraphs, steers us through debates, and guides us through memories of the past and promises of times to come. The path it takes us on is anything but arbitrary.

The Haggadah is intentionally arranged to escort us through a specific emotional and spiritual experience. When considered this way, the text of Baruch HaMakom is odd compared to the scripted, cerebral, and scholarly text of the Haggadah. Almost as if it doesn’t quite belong. That is, until we examine it more closely.

The long night ahead will be filled with tales and details of our astonishing exodus from Egypt. From the visitation of preternatural plagues upon the wicked Mitzrim, to the miraculous splitting of the sea – every aspect of the Yetzias Mitzrayim experience was punctuated by truly spectacular spectacles. But before we can get into the pertinent particulars – some good and some gruesome – we must first arm ourselves with the knowledge of Hashem’s incomprehensible immensity.

בָּרוּךְ הַמָּקוֹם, בָּרוּךְ הוּא. בָּרוּךְ שֶׁנָּתַן תּוֹרָה לְעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל, בָּרוּךְ הוּא

Baruch HaMakom – It is here that we refer to Hashem by His attribute of Omnipresence. Before we allow ourselves to become absorbed in the mitzvah of Sipur Yetzias Mitzrayim, we must first understand with absolute clarity that Hashem is present in each and every facet of our lives, even when He isn’t explicitly felt or seen.

The Ba’al Haggadah is showing us that in order to instill Emunah into our hearts and the hearts of our children (represented by the Four Sons), we must begin by reinforcing our awareness of Hashem’s hashgacha pratis and klalis – from His Divine Providence on a global scale, to His relationship with us, His Nation, His Children, on an individual level.

In this short, yet significant passage, we go from addressing Hashem as the Ribono Shel Olam – the Master of the World, an infinitude that encompasses our entire universe – to referring to Him as the One Who entered an eternal covenant with our freshly-freed forebears so many years ago, and Who remains completely involved in every second of our own lives. By reciting Baruch HaMakom before we engage the Arba’ah Banim, we take a moment to move from awe to intimacy, wonder to relationship.

This, my dear friends, is the main purpose of Pesach, the main concept of Yetzias Mitzrayim, and the main takeaway of the Seder Night and the Haggadah from which we read.

Today’s tune is one of those songs that makes you wonder what we sang before it existed. Boruch Hamokom was composed by Rivi Kenigsberg and was first recorded by The Neginah Orchestra and Singers for their very first album, Awaken! – Ura, way back in 1971.

When arranger and conductor Yisroel Lamm was putting together the album, this melody came in with no lyrics. However, Yisroel felt that something was missing. So, he played it for his sisters Devory a’h & Malkie, a’h who matched it to the beautiful words of Baruch Hamakom… and it stuck. At the time, nobody could have guessed that the song would quickly become a perennial darling of Seder tables all across the globe.

Yisroel Lamm says:
“Neginah was a fledgling orchestra, and we were planning our first album,” Lamm remembers. “The industry was nothing like it is today, and there weren’t hundreds of songs to choose from. I remember we received some niggunim from Rivi Kenigsberg in Boro Park, and we liked them. But this one was wordless, and finding words to fit a tune takes some time and inspiration. My twin sisters Devory a”h and Malky a”h, who heard that we were looking for words, were playing guitar and came up with the idea to set it to “Baruch Hamakom.” We did, and 50 years later, we can say it was a good call.”

Wishing each and every one of you a Chag Kasher v’Sameach!