Adapted from: A Most Meaningful Seder by Rabbi Yechiel Spero

Maggid isn’t just another part of the Seder. It’s THE part. 

Listen carefully, because tonight, your father, or whoever is the head of the household, has a story to tell. And it’s not just their story. It’s your story: your family, your roots, and the foundation that keeps us all standing strong through the winds and storms of history.

Story: The Tree-Lined Boulevard

In the early 1920s, Winston Churchill, the future prime minister of England, visited Eretz Yisrael. As part of his trip, he came to see the young city of Tel Aviv, a small, dusty town just beginning to grow. The leaders of the city wished to make a strong impression. They wanted Mr. Churchill to see that their city was modern and beautiful.

The main street, Rothschild Boulevard, was supposed to be the pride of the city. But there was a big problem. It didn’t have any trees. A boulevard without trees? The thought was embarrassing! How could they call it a “boulevard” and welcome such an important guest without any greenery to provide shade or beauty?

Meir Dizengoff, the first mayor of Tel Aviv, came up with a bold plan. He ordered workers to bring in fully grown trees and “plant” them along the street overnight. The next morning, the once-empty boulevard looked grand, with tall, leafy trees lining the path Mr. Churchill would take.

When Mr. Churchill arrived, the city was buzzing with excitement. People waved flags, cheered, and gathered to see the famous British leader. Mayor Dizengoff proudly led Mr. Churchill down the tree-lined boulevard, beaming with pride.

But then, disaster struck.

A group of local kids was curious about the new trees and eager to catch a closer look at Mr. Churchill. So, they began climbing them. The trees, however, were still unrooted in the sandy ground. They couldn’t hold the children’s weight. One by one, the trees began to fall. First one tree toppled, then another, and then another.

The city leaders were horrified. Their grand plan to impress Mr. Churchill had come crashing down — literally.

However, instead of becoming upset, Mr. Churchill simply smiled. He patted Mayor Dizengoff on the back and said something simple yet memorable. “Roots. Without roots, the trees will never stand.”

Mr. Churchill’s statement wasn’t just about trees. It holds a deep message for us, too. Without roots, nothing can survive. Not trees, not people, and, most importantly, not Yiddishkeit.

As Yidden, our roots are our Torah, our mitzvos, and the mesorah passed down from generation to generation. These roots give us strength to stand tall, no matter how fierce the winds or how tough the storms of life may be. Without them, we’d topple, like those unrooted trees. But with them, we flourish and grow. 

Every year at the Seder, we connect to those roots. We remind ourselves of where we come from, of the sacrifices our ancestors made to pass the flame of Yiddishkeit from generation to generation. We remind ourselves that the strength of our future depends on the strength of our connection to the past.

Tonight, at the Seder…

As you begin Maggid, think about your roots. Where do you come from, and how can you grow stronger? Without roots, we cannot stand. But with them, we can weather any storm and grow taller than we ever imagined.