The Seder Experience

The Targum Onkles on the words ויגד (such as in Vayechi 48:2 וַיַּגֵּד לְיַעֲקֹב) is וְחַוִּי which means to demonstrate.  The Shem MiShmuel says in the name of his father, the Avnei Nezar that the mitzvah of והגדת לבנך is to demonstrate, illustrate and experience the story of yitzias mitzaraim, not to merely recount the events.  In other words, the mitzvah is to experience the Exodus, not to merely say the words.  

We say in the Haggadah, וַאֲפִילוּ כֻּלָּנוּ חֲכָמִים כֻּלָּנוּ נְבוֹנִים כֻּלָּנוּ זְקֵנִים כֻּלָּנוּ יוֹדְעִים אֶת הַתּוֹרָה מִצְוָה עָלֵינוּ לְסַפֵּר בִּיצִיאַת מִצְרָיִם. וְכָל הַמַּרְבֶּה לְסַפֵּר בִּיצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם הֲרֵי זֶה מְשֻׁבָּח, And even were we all wise, all intelligent, all aged and all knowledgeable in the Torah, still the command would be upon us to tell of the coming out of Egypt; and the more one tells of the coming out of Egypt, the more admirable it is.  Why is there an obligation to recount the story of the Exodus even for people who are advanced Torah scholars that already know all the details?  Because the mitzvah is not merely about relaying facts, ideas and words, the mitzvah is to relive the events of the Exodus in a palpable manner and that can only be accomplished on the night of the Seder.  

This idea is hinted to in the Haggadah using the word לספר which literally means to say the story. The previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak says the word לספר also means a shining sapphire for the point of the Seder night is to make the events of yitzias mityzraim so clear they illuminate a person's heart.  The avodah of the night is to make the story come alive.  That is what the Haggadah continues כָל הַמַּרְבֶּה לְסַפֵּר בִּיצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם הֲרֵי זֶה מְשֻׁבָּח, the praise of adding to the Haggadah is not about adding more words, כָל הַמַּרְבֶּה לְסַפֵּר, the more the experience is clear, the more it is felt and illuminates a person, that is the a praiseworthy activity.  The Seder night is not just a night to recount, to say stories, it is a night of reliving, experiencing and bringing to life yitzias mitzraim and all of its lessons.