By Cantor Galit Dadoun-Cohen, Temple B’nai Or
Jewish tradition is wrought with a series of dramatic historical events, but none more definitive, transformative, and important historically than the ancient Israelites’ exodus from Egypt.
This story, which we are commanded to retell yearly at the Passover Seder table, has the overarching theme of redemption.
By divine intervention, the Israelites are led from slavery to freedom. This becomes the blueprint of Jewish understanding of God, morality and ethics.
Wherever we may come from, no matter the language we speak, the color of our skin, or our devoutness, the vast majority of Jews feel bound to take part in this tradition.
The Jewish people observe the holiday of Passover by taking part in an abundant festive meal and the yearly reading and re-reading of the Haggadah – the pre-formulated text that subscribes how to retell the story of the exodus and conduct the Seder (literally: the order).
Each and every one of us in every generation is obligated to retell this story as if we ourselves were freed from slavery. That is the fundamental doctrine of the holiday of Passover.
Although we cannot prove historically that the exodus story actually took place, this has no significance to the continuity of this tradition, because of its strong imprint in our memory as a people.
Our collective memory reminds us to continue to teach the lessons of the story to future generations, and to continue to feel responsible for the basic human right for freedom.
There is something deeply emotional in this mission and an urge to pursue this social justice for all.
The nature of the Haggadah, like other Jewish texts, is inquisitive and disputative. The paradigm of studying this text is through children challenging parents, students challenging teachers.
The smallest children are encouraged to ask the questions and the elders reply. Wisdom is gained through nibbling food and words at the family table. It is this paradigm of inter-generational learning that creates the pedagogical mode of continuity through memory — from one generation to the next.
Encouragement to ask questions, does not mean, however, that all will be answered. As we delve deeper into the truly difficult questions of our times, we know that many do not yet have answers.
Passover is an opportunity to remind ourselves that our fate of freedom is a privileged one, that many in our hurting world are still denied this basic right.
We must continue to ask ourselves who are the Pharaohs in our lifetime that prevent human beings from the basic rights of freedom? How may we open our hearts to help others? Who is the stranger in our midst that we may welcome?
And how can we prevent our hearts from hardening by fear and coldness? How can we exercise empathy and compassion for one another?
Perhaps we feel helpless as we hear daily of the millions across far-off shores who are displaced worldwide, torn from their homes due to civil war, famine and persecution.
Adding these questions to our Seder table, or our dinner table, can be a way of adding awareness and compassion to our lives. We may also want to take action. Please feel free to visit the website of the religious action center for more information and resources at https://www.rac.org/refugee-crisis-response.
May we all be pursuers of righteousness for those who seek the same freedoms we enjoy on this night. And let us say: Amen.
Galit Dadoun-Cohen is cantor at Temple B’nai Or in Morristown.
