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Dear Emery/Weiner Community,
As we approach Passover, the most widely observed Jewish holiday, I share the following thoughts.
Regardless of one's personal beliefs about God or the Divine, Passover resonates because it's our national story. It inaugurates the defining period in our peoplehood -- the escape from Egypt & journey through the desert, which leads to the receipt of Torah & arrival in Israel. In short, we go from slavery to self-determination -- but with historical memories in tact. Our past is meant to shape our consciousness. Specifically, we tell & re-tell the story of the Exodus not only to retain perspective on our own humble beginnings, but in order to create empathy for others: "Remember, you were strangers in a strange land..." "Love the stranger among you..." Incredibly, there is no law more frequently promulgated in the Torah than how we are to treat the "Ger," the stranger.
A related aside. If you look at the Hebrew language employed by the four sons (or children), you'll notice that there's no grammatical difference between the wise one & the wicked one; they each ask their father questions about what transpired and what's commanded using the word "you" rather than "us" -- and yet only the latter is said to be isolating himself from the Jewish People. In my view, the Rabbis don't offer a very compelling explanation for the differing treatments. Perhaps the answer lies not in the specific words each child uses, but in the differing tones that connote their respective attitudes.
Taken together, I think these two seemingly disparate ideas are powerful reminders of how we can achieve our better selves -- individually & collectively. First, we must constantly strive to remember the "outcasts" in our midst; not just the poor, but the shy or awkward who don't necessarily have "social clout." Second, when we communicate with each other -- especially when we challenge -- we must be mindful that it's not only what we say, it's how we say it. In other words, TMI -- tone matters immensely.
With best wishes for wonderful Seders & a meaningful holiday.
Shabbat Shalom & Chag Sameach.
Stuart J. Dow
Head of School
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