What kind of Pesach Jew are You?

"Take heed that you do not forget the Lord that freed you from the Land of Egypt, the house of bondage."
Deut 6.12 [JPS Tanakh 1985]

Pesach [or Passover] is a major Jewish Holiday. It is the celebration of the exodus from Mizrayim [Egypt] around 3200 years ago. It is a time to remember that not only did God free us from slavery and hard bondage then, he has freed us now -- today.

Traditionally the Jewish family gathers to share this joyous occasion, but sometimes the hard bondage of who we choose to be, gets in the way of remembering what this special Holiday is really about.

Of all of the Jewish Holidays this is the one that speaks to my heart and soul the most. I know some who have forgotten what it means. They did not really listen to the words of the Haggadah. Maybe they need to read it again and think about it.

A friend of mine recently played for me a Jewish camp song "What kind of Jew are you?" so let's play a little game with this in mind, but centered around Pesach.

Pesach lasts [depending where and who you are] seven or eight days. On the first and second night of Pesach there is a special meal and a religious service that you not only share with family but you also share it with strangers as well for we are reminded that "we sojourned as strangers in the land of Egypt." At one point we even open the door to welcome the presence of Eliyahu HaNavi, Elijah the Prophet who legend says will come to tell us of the coming of the Messianic Age.

What kind of Jew refuses to invite strangers or even family to their table on a day such as this because making a stranger or that family member comfortable is just too difficult?

Pesach is a celebration of freedom from bondage. It is a time when we honor God for having freed us from the bondage of "Mizrayim". Mizrayim is the Hebrew word for Egypt but meaning "the narrow space". But it is important to understand that God not only freed us 3200 years ago but God is willing to do it again for us today -- now -- this moment.

That narrow space of bondage might be one of hurt, anger, fear, prejudice, or grief. Our "pharaoh" might be work or home, or family members that make us feel enslaved or trapped. The "miracle" of Pesach is that God will free us from this narrow space if we choose to follow.

What kind of Jew refuses to see the world has changed and still clings to yesterday's truth, or yesterday's anger and its grievances or yesterday's prejudice?

Pesach is a celebration for old and young, for rich and poor. It is a holiday where we all remember our good fortune to have been called to be a holy people.

What kind of Jew lessens or degrades another human being, valuing their own worldly possessions over and above the welfare of another's life or liberty?

Pesach is a time for the remembrance of humility. For God did not have to rescue the children of Jacob but God heard the cries of their hard bondage and answered them.

Yet Pharaoh is not the only one with a "hardened heart". If you read the books of the Prophets, The Nevi'im, you will find again and again the plea that the children of Israel turn from its ways and humble itself. To return to become the Holy people that God loves.

What kind of Jew refuses to humble themselves before God because they are too proud?

Pesach is a time to learn about what God wants from us and wants us to teach our children. The center piece of the Haggadah are the four questions and the ethical conundrums underlying those questions.

Who asks these questions? The wise child, the head-strong child, the simple child and the ignorant child. By and large the most difficult of these children is the head-strong child: the child or adult that thinks they know what's is best and says "you" instead of "we". The head-strong child cannot even logically conceive of the idea that God not only freed the Jews 3200 or so years ago, but can still do the same thing today. Strangely enough, most of us are head strong children.

What kind of Jew thinks they know better than God what is God's will or God's way?

Pesach is a time to serve all who come to the seder table to share the joy of our freedom and do it for the love and joy of doing it, without placing a price tag or expectation upon anyone. It is not a time to lord over guests or family as if they were servants [there is no time when *that* should be so].

What kind of Jew uses any kind of event to show off how "marvelous, great, or magnanimous" they are?

So..Pharaoh [or head strong child] wherever you may be...

Listen:

You can't win. God freed us. Now. Today. This moment. We are forever beyond your control. We are beyond your judgment. We will be what we will be... for we will be, and do, and say what the God of our fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob and the God of Moses, has asked of us to do, to be, and to say.

Because I have learned this the hard way, in the House of Bondage, I can say in both joy and humility when asked what kind of Pesach Jew am I? I am Jew-bilant.

Until next time....

HaGedi