Positive Mitzvah 157
Telling the Story of Pesach
Exodus 13:8 "And you shall relate to your son on that day"
If something very special happened to you, you would want to tell others about it.
Especially on the date of the event, you would tell the story over and over again each year and share your exciting experience with others.
The story of Pesach commemorates a very special event in the history of the Jewish people.
On Pesach, we became a nation; G-d led us out of Egypt in order to receive the Torah.
Each year, on Pesach, we are commanded to retell this story.
As we tell the story, we appreciate the great miracles HaShem did for us, selecting us as His chosen people and making us into His nation.
For the text of the Hagada, see the Rambam inside.
Positive Mitzvah 170
Hearing the Shofar Blown on Rosh HaShanah
Numbers 29:1 "It shall be a day of blowing the Shofar for you"
Rosh HaShanah is the beginning of the new year.
On this day, we proclaim HaShem to be King over the entire Universe.
Just as a king's arrival is announced by trumpet blowing, we sound the shofar on Rosh HaShanah, declaring HaShem the one and only King.