Apr 18th 2008, 00:00

Tomorrow evening, Jews around the world will once again sit down at their festive Seder tables. And while some will argue whether the matzah balls are too soft or too hard, and others will make fun of Uncle So-and-so who always eats so much horseradish that his face turns as red as the substance itself, some will reflect on Passover's enduring message. Without question this holiday is the most celebrated ritual in Judaism. Even Jews who otherwise live on the periphery of Jewish life, who never set foot in a synagogue or otherwise have any contact with the Jewish community, somehow, someway find themselves observing some element of this spring festival.

As we sit around our tables tomorrow night, many of us will look around and reflect on who is not there. We will remember parents and grandparents, siblings and perhaps even children who once brought joy to our lives. We will recall conversations we had with them at the Passover table, perhaps even hear their voices as they once led the Seder or asked the Four Questions. That's part of the power of Passover. It's not just about remembering, but about experiencing. We don't just tell that ancient story of our people, we relive it. We use all our senses to put ourselves into history so, as the Talmud says, we can see ourselves as though we personally have gone forth from Egypt.

Although Passover is the story of the Jewish people's journey from slavery unto freedom, its message is universal. For thousands of years, oppressed people have looked to our Torah for inspiration and hope. We have been the model of a people that has endured, survived, persevered, and overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Pharaoh may have been the first to persecute us, but certainly he was not the last. Over and over again, new pharaohs have arisen who have sought to solve all their problems by blaming the Jews. Even today, there are those in our country, some in influential positions and some with the power of the media, who seek to place all of society's ills on one group. If we could or would just get rid of them, the argument goes, all our problems would disappear. This is not a new concept.

Perhaps not coincidently, in our Torah portion this week, Aaron the Priest is told to take two goats and to mark one for God and the other for Azazel. The one marked for God is to be sacrificed to the deity. The other is to be sent off into the wilderness. What is the meaning of Azazel? Many theories have been posited. The first great English Bible translator, William Tyndale was apparently the first to coin the term "scapegoat," and that is generally how Azazel is understood. Today, there is no lack of scapegoats, and we Jews are still not immune from that appellation.

Passover comes each year to remind us that freedom is not a passive act. Our rabbis were troubled by the story of the Exodus and how the Israelites were seemingly passive participants with God doing all the work and pulling the puppet strings as it were. So they focused their attention not just on God's actions, but more importantly, on the actions of the Israelites who literally took steps towards their freedom. By stepping into the sea up to their necks before it parted, they demonstrated their desire for freedom. Today, we too, have to take positive actions to work for freedom, for ours and for all those who still suffer oppression and bondage, whether physical, spiritual, or emotional.

Before we get to our Seder meal, we still have Shabbat, so join us for services tonight with our Kol Tikvah choir and tomorrow morning as usual (no Religious School though, so you can get ready for your seder). Have a joyous and very happy Passover!