I have often tried to imagine what it would be like to be a slave, leaving Egypt, following Moses and a new God, after hundreds of years of bitter slavery. The Exodus from Egypt is the story of a physical journey of escaping from slavery, and the beginning of our establishment as monotheists. The Israelites tentative faith was the foundation of Judaism as we know it today, and has come to be acknowledged in our yearly celebration of Passover.
Thousands of years later, Passover is the most celebrated holiday in the Jewish world. More people attend a seder than celebrate Hanukkah; or worship during the High Holy Days. Some posit that Passover is widely celebrated because it is a home-based holiday, and one does not have to belong to a congregation. In addition, others who may not acknowledge their Jewish identity during the rest of the year, cherish Passover. Why do the unaffiliated and disaffected celebrate Passover in such numbers? Especially since it's not an easy holiday to celebrate! Really, why is Passover meaningful to us today?
I believe it is the timeless message of a journey-a physical journey toward freedom, and a spiritual journey towards faith. The Passover message is real to us. We recognize ourselves in our ancient brothers' and sisters' struggle. We talk about the physical journey of the Israelites, from Egypt through the red sea. We acknowledge the powerful transformation of faith that the Israelites experienced, as God remembered them. The miracles and marvels of the ten plagues and the splitting of the Red Sea began the spiritual transformation of the slaves into a people defined by their faith in one God.
We continue on that journey today. Our journey since leaving Egypt is one that has never ended. It continues to today. The Haggadah is not canonized. It is not, like our Bible, a completed, static work. The Haggadah began to take its shape in the early part of the first century C.E. Parts of what is familiar to us can be found in the Talmud, like the famous four questions. However, its likely that the first full Haggadah was probably not written for some years after that, and may not even resemble what is being recited by most of us today! While every haggadah contains certain rituals-like the four questions-- but the order and interpretation and method of ritual varies widely amongst published haggadot. There seems to be almost no boundaries to the creativity. Think about this: there are more than 1 million haggadot in print today! Each interprets the story of the Exodus and the symbols of Passover in their own unique way. For example, in the 1980's, a main concern of the larger Jewish community was the plight of the Jews in the then Soviet Union. Jews there were both refused religious freedom and the ability to leave the country. American Jews united to help the “refuseniks” and their plight-a lack of freedom and fear of persecution-was likened easily to the Passover story. Special readings, like this one, were offered at seder tables: “This Is The Matzah of Hope: This matzah, which we set aside as a symbol of hope, for the three million Jews of the Soviet Union, reminds us of the indestructible link that exists between us. As we observe this festival of freedom, we know that Soviet Jews are not free to learn of their Jewish past, to hand it down to their children. They cannot learn the languages of their fathers. They cannot teach their children to be the teachers, the rabbis of future generations.
They can only sit in silence and become invisible. We shall be their voice, and our voices shall be joined by thousands of men of conscience aroused by the wrongs suffered by Soviet Jews. Then shall they know that they have not been forgotten and they that sit in darkness shall yet see a great light.”
That ability to be creative brings Passover to life, and makes the journey timeless. It connects us to our ancient roots at the same time as acknowledging our current reality. Each seder is unique and contemporary. It is one of the geniuses, I believe, of Judaism-that we continue to infuse our current situations into the ancient symbols and messages of the seder. We as Jews are free to respond to God in our time, and to make this story our own. We allow the story to be lived out for us in a new way in our world, keeping it meaningful.
In addition to adding our personal meanings to the seder itself, Passover is significant because of the memories it creates. As children, many of us remember family traditions that were unique. We remember the favorite dish our parent or grandparent made; the way that the youngest in the family cherished-or abhorred-reciting the four questions. Sometimes the memories aren't even of the seder itself. For example, one of the things makes our seder special is our set- up process. I look forward to our friend dropping off her gorgeous tablecloths; I eagerly anticipate two friends coming and helping us set up the tables and the chairs. It is the lull before the storm, and it gives me a chance to visit with these close friends before our house is filled with 30 or more people. For years now, our dogs participate in some antic or another, and all of our guests wait to see which dog will get in trouble this year!
Passover is our story. But each of us hears it and experiences it differently; each of us makes it our own. In “The Tapestry of Jewish Time”, Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin writes, “For 3,000 years, the story of the Exodus has brought a message of hope and deliverance to oppressed people all over the world. That's the way it is with stories. Once they are told, no one can own them. They belong to the listener, to everyone.”
Passover is a timeless journey of faith for each of us-because it is both a universal story and a personal message. We all hear the same words of the Bible, and are united by common symbols. But for each of us, the journey is unique; every year, our personal Exodus begins again.
The end of the Reform Movement's Haggadah reads: “The seder service now concludes: its rites observed in full, its purposes revealed.” “This privilege we share will ever be renewed. Until God's highest plan is known in full, God's highest blessing sealed: Peace for us, for everyone”.
Amen.
E-mail Rabbi Bergman Vann
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