The typical answer one might offer for this would be ‘SheAf
Hein Hayah B’Oso HaNes…. They too
were included in the the miracle of the exodus. But that principle applies only
to rabbinic enactments like hearing Megilas Esther on Purim or the drinking the
Daled Kosos (the 4 cups of wine) at the Seder. It is never used to require
women to observe a biblical level time bound positive commandment like Sipur
Yitzias Miztrayim. Why should women then be required to do that?
The Sefer Kehilas Yaakov gives us an interesting answer. Women are
required to eat Matzah on Pesach too – even though that too is a time bound
positive commandment. The reason for that is as follows: Kol SheYeshna B’ Bal
Tochel Chametz, Yash Na B’Kum Ochel Matzos (Pesachim - 43b). Any time a positive time bound commandment is connected to a
Lav (a negative commandment – in this case ‘Do not eat Chametz) …its counterpart (in this case eating Matzah) applies. Even though a woman would ordinarily not be required
to do a time bound positive commandment… when it is tied to a negative commandment
she is required to observe that Mitzvah.
The Gemarah (Pesachim – 115b) tells us that Matzah is Lechem
Oni. One of the definitions of Lechem Oni is something upon which many things
are answered – which is in essence what Sipur Yetzias Mitzrayim is. Meaning
that in order to fulfill the Mitzvah of eating Matzah properly, it must be
eaten as part of Sipur Yitzias Mitzrayim – that is, saying the Haggadah. And that
makes it a biblical level requirement.
*Taken from Torah L’Daas
A Happy and Kosher Pesach unto all.
The following is a list of Dvrei Torah related to Pesach featured
here in the past.
