Toy Frogs or Tears? The Haggadah’s Moral Tension | Unlocking the Haggadah #10@910 | 2026.03.25

We have a striking practice at the Seder: when we mention the Ten Plagues, we remove a drop of wine from our glass - diminishing our joy in recognition of the suffering of the Egyptians, even our enemies. And yet, at the very same Seder, many of us use finger puppets for the plagues, place toy frogs on the table, and sing playful songs about Pharaoh in pajamas. So which is it? Are we meant to restrain our joy at the downfall of our enemies - or to celebrate it? This is not a trivial question. It cuts to the heart of how Judaism understands justice, compassion, and the moral cost of victory - then, and in the complex and often painful realities we face today. We explored this tension at length in Mining the Riches of the Parsha (January 29, 2026), and I return to it here to take a clear and principled stand. In this series, Unlocking the Haggadah, we uncover the hidden structure of the Haggadah so that every paragraph leads logically to the next - and the entire Seder becomes a thoughtful conversation rather than a confusing collection of texts. In the next episode, we turn to Dayanu and discover why it may be one of the most misunderstood - and central - sections of the Haggadah. 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: / @rabbimichaelwhitman Instagram: / adathmichael Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hWYhCG... 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.