Why the Seder Ends With Hope - Even When the World Doesn’t | Unlocking the Haggadah #14 | | 10@9 | 2026.03.30

This is my 10@9 for Monday, March 30, 2026 Though every section of the Haggadah holds both slavery and redemption - as we explored yesterday - the real question is this: What are you meant to feel when the Seder ends? That question turns on a subtle but critical debate about the final passage of Maggid. How much of the story do we tell - and where do we stop? We explore the approach of Rabbi Tarfon, and why Rabbi Akiva insisted we go further. Because this is not just a technical dispute. It shapes the emotional trajectory of the entire Seder - and what you carry with you into the world afterward. At a time when many feel uncertain or discouraged about the Jewish present and future, the Haggadah quietly insists on something radical: You must end with hope. In this series, Unlocking the Haggadah, we uncover the hidden structure of the text so that each paragraph leads to the next - and the Seder becomes a coherent, meaningful conversation. In the final episode, we’ll explore the climactic conclusion of the Haggadah—and of this entire journey. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. ADATH is a modern orthodox synagogue community in suburban Montreal, providing Judaism for the next generation. We take great pleasure in welcoming everyone with a warm smile, while sharing inspiration through prayer, study, and friendship. Rabbi Whitman shares his thoughts and inspirations through online lectures and shiurim, which are available on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5FLcsC6xz5TmkirT1qObkA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adathmichael/ Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mining-the-riches-of-the-parsha/id1479615142?fbclid=IwAR1c6YygRR6pvAKFvEmMGCcs0Y6hpmK8tXzPinbum8drqw2zLIo7c9SR-jc Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hWYhCG5GR8zygw4ZNsSmO Please contact Rabbi Whitman ([email protected]) with any questions or feedback, or to receive a daily email, "Study with Rabbi Whitman Today," with current and past insights for that day, video, and audio, all in one short email sent directly to your inbox.