Derasha on Bo 12:14 — Torah Temimah note 3

Parashas Bo · Shemos 12:14 · TT note 3

The Complete Passuk

וְהָיָה֩ הַיּ֨וֹם הַזֶּ֤ה לָכֶם֙ לְזִכָּר֔וֹן וְחַגֹּתֶ֥ם אֹת֖וֹ חַ֣ג לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם חֻקַּ֥ת עוֹלָ֖ם תְּחׇגֻּֽהוּ׃

Source Citation

Torah Temimah on Shemos 12:14, note 3 (on חֻקַּת עוֹלָם) points to Mechilta.

Sefaria — Exodus 12:14
Sefaria — Torah Temimah on Exodus 12:14
Sefaria — Mechilta

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Mechilta (via Torah Temimah)
חֻקַּת עוֹלָם — לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר? לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם״, יָכוֹל מִעוּט דּוֹרוֹת שְׁנַיִם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״חֻקַּת עוֹלָם תְּחָגֻּהוּ״.

English: “An everlasting statute” — why is it said? Because it says “throughout your generations,” one might think a minimal two generations; therefore Scripture says “you shall celebrate it as an everlasting statute.”

Type of Learning

Expansion of “generations” to all time via “everlasting statute.”

What Is Learned

The festival is not limited to a few generations; it is an everlasting statute for all time.