• Table For Five
• Torah

Table for Five: Passover Edition

In partnership with the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles

 Edited by Salvador Litvak, the Accidental Talmudist

And [as for] the one who does not know to ask, you open for him. As the Torah says, “You must tell your child on that day, saying, ‘For the sake of this, HaShem acted for me when I left Egypt.’”  

– Passover Haggadah

 

Rabbi Elazar Bergman, Founder, hiddentzaddik.com

Maharal of Prague understands this “know” not as brain-knowledge, but connection-knowledge (as in “Adam knew Eve”). This unconnected child, perhaps adult in years, fails to ask because he is indifferent. Is his indifference antagonistic or benign? Maharal writes that we do not know.

So, we respond to his indifference not with our own indifference, but with concern and conviction, with Show and Tell™. The Hebrew instruction “you open for him” uses the feminine pronoun with the masculine verb. Not gender dysphoria, but advice to harmonize these distinct energies. As parents, we should speak with one voice. As Jews, we ought to invite, interest and encourage one another in the richness and responsibility of our “emunah” (faith). These need to be done with genuine camaraderie and honesty.

And if it arises, acknowledge your own apathy towards Torah and mitzvahs. Don’t turn your back on it. Take yourself in hand. Show and tell your child/self that “for the sake of my mitzvahs HaShem acts for me. He’s involved in my life. He liberated me and gave me the privilege and opportunity of being a Torah-living Jew. That’s freedom! May your Afikomen present be ever-renewing enthusiasm for faith in HaShem, His Torah and all His people—including you!

 

Rabbi Chaim Singer-Frankes, Multi-Faith Chaplain, Spiritual Care Guide, Kaiser Panorama City

The Passover seder is modeled on the classical Greek symposium, inviting each of us at the table to become a philosopher. With that first glass of wine, we may exit our narrow intellectual and spiritual slaveries and let the Haggadah refract each of us in rays of personal insight. Every page illuminates a palace to be explored for innermost truths. But of them all, the “four children” invite us to the most captivating introspection. The sons enchant as arresting archetypes, and with each year we recognize different aspects of ourselves nestled within them. We fathom which son to identify with, locating one to express our particular nature. From lowliness to curiosity, discernment to radical selfishness, wisdom to tongue-tied naivete.

Indeed, with the fourth son, the Haggadah’s authors may have concealed that most imperative quality so easily dismissed: Awe. Curious and ironic, it is the fourth child who in his mute astonishment may in fact “say” the most. Maybe it is the improbable and outlandish notion that “God was present for all of it” which leaves this child dumbfounded. Consider things which leave you agape or utterly breathless. The spectacle of our deliverance from bondage? Well sure! But isn’t it all a Divine pageant: a breathtaking sunset, a few bars by Mussorgsky, or the miracle of birth? With God as gem cutter, even pedestrian facets of daily life bedazzle and inspire us to apprehend that what we don’t know is the gateway to eternity.

 

Rabbi Yoni Dahlen, Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Southfield MI

Yehudit Wolffe, Founder Bais Chana of California and KosherSofer.com BH

At the Seder we will be telling the son “that doesn’t know how to ask”: “For the sake of THIS Hashem acted for me when I left Egypt.” This son will ask what is “THIS”?

What causes Hashem’s miracles? Why did G-d allow evil/suffering before miracles? Chassidus delves deeply into these questions, to see our pain/ G-d hiding/ a confused world/ evil/ within the plan of creation.

G-d’s plan is for us to see an infinite G-d in a finite world, for us to bring the world to its ultimate intention/purpose which is to understand an infinite G-d. Can limited humans see an infinite G-d? YES! The Lubavitcher Rebbe clarified: evil, a cover of truth, only has power if we consider it powerful and valid. When we follow Hashem’s will, and act with goodness, evil has no power. It cannot frighten/overpower us. Through us persevering with good deeds during dark times, doing Hashem’s will, we overpower evil….by revealing the truth: the power of an infinite Hashem in this world! Our light expels darkness! We see Hashem performing miracles.

How do we persevere with conviction and empowered leadership being forces of good? We have power by understanding Torah, internalizing the teachings of Hashem; His will and wisdom, especially with the inner dimensions of Chassidus we understand/become G-dl’y conscious…. We see Hashem continuously performing miracles for us! Doing goodness/kindness despite darkness, breaks veils, exposes miracles/ our purpose in creation. By thanking/acknowledging Hashem we complete G-d’s intention for us. Thank you Hashem!!!

 

Yehudit Garmaise, Freelance writer, Masters Degree Student of Marriage and Family Therapy

Instead of falling into despair about our hostages, worldwide anti-Semitism, and escalating attacks on Israel, chas v’shalom, Rebbe R. Hershel’le of Rimonov, encourages us to try to be more like the child who does not know how to ask questions. “Believe me,” the Rebbe would say, “The children who do not know how to ask do better than all of them. The simple emunah [faith] of such children is so strong and confident that they don’t feel the need to question, nor complain.”

“When we say ‘Shema Yisroel,’ says Reb Elimelech Biderman, “we cover our eyes because only when we aren’t looking around, speculating, wondering, nor doubting, can we truly feel, ‘Hashem Echad.’” Jews who allow the news to infuriate them, expend energy deflecting illogical and hateful arguments, and tirelessly engage on social media “will end up understanding much less than Jews who go with temimus [purity],” says Reb Biderman.

The Haggadah urges us to remind each other and our most pure, believing selves: “Hashem acted on our behalf when we left Mitzrayim.”

We don’t know how or when, but we need to stand strong and daven. We must bolster our faith and trust in eventual victory, safety, and freedom. “The process of recovery is a rewriting of our story,” says Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld. We know how this story ends and ultimately, we will write it.

For Am Yisroel, Pesach reminds us, Hashem will bypass His usual rules of nature to give us reasons to sing in gratitude and celebration.

 

With thanks to Rabbi Elazar Bergman, Rabbi Chaim Singer-Frankes, Rabbi Yoni Dahlen, Yehudit Wolffe, & Yehudit Garmaise

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