This Wednesday night, we partake in the most unique night of the year, ליל הסדר. There, we read the הגדה, highlighted by מגיד. In רבי אלעזר בן עזריה ,מגיד states: “הרי אני כבן שבעים שנה ולא זכיתי שתאמר יציאת מצרים בלילות עד שדרשה בן זומא - I am like a 70 year old, and I haven’t merited to prove that one must speak the exodus from Egypt at night until I heard the Drasha of Ben Zuma.” This statement is very confusing. Why does he say that he is only ‘like’ a 70-year-old? What is the relevance of this proclamation to recounting the Exodus at night? And if it’s just referring to his age and wisdom, how then can we understand such a צדיק boasting about himself?

Recorded in Yerushalayim