"Passover in January?" 27th January 2012

            Don’t look now but there are only 61 shopping days until Passover (not including Saturdays, of course).  And this year Pesach and the first Seder fall on Friday night (April 6) so our celebration will be enhanced and heightened as it is combined with our Sabbath meal and observance.  But on the liturgical calendar and Torah reading cycle, Passover falls this week as we read the story of the first Passover and Exodus of the Jewish people.  In the Torah we move from slavery to freedom, degradation to celebration, and darkness to light.  The journey begins with this week’s Torah portion and continues today. 

            After nine debilitating plagues afflicting his people, Pharaoh finally opens his eyes and relents, but only after the final plague which affects him personally and directly.  The Israelites are instructed to mark their doors to inoculate themselves against the Angel of Death which sweeps throughout the land killing the first-born son of every Egyptian family.  Due to the door markings on the homes of the Israelites, the Angel “passes over” their homes.  Only after this does Pharaoh finally heed Moses words: “Let my people go!”  The people leave in haste, not having enough time to allow their bread dough to rise.  Thus, matzah is born and the Jewish people begin their journey of destiny through the Sea of Reeds to Mt. Sinai, the Promised Land, and beyond. 

            Later, our Rabbis and Sages would take a Greco-Roman banquet and give it Jewish historic, religious, and theological significance and thus the modern Seder is born.  But it’s all based on and rooted in the text of this week’s Parasha.  Like many of us, our ancestors were uncomfortable with the plagues and God’s wrath pouring out upon our enemies.  They established the principle that Jews do not rejoice at the destruction of other human beings, even if those human beings are our enemy, even if they plot against us, even if they enslave us, even if their destruction is well-deserved.  And that is why when we mention the plagues during the Passover Seder, we diminish our own joy by spilling out drops of wine from our cups.  Thus do we acknowledge the humanity the Egyptians who were also God’s creation. 

            The lessons and messages of Passover are universal and should not be reserved to one week per year.  Whether it’s January or July, throughout the year we should remember the important events described in this week’s Parasha.  Indeed we do recall them every week when we recite the Shabbat Kiddush.  But central in our consciousness should always be gratitude for our freedom, thankfulness for our humanity, and awareness of our history. 

            Tonight at 7:30 PM is our Shabbat evening service with our Kol Tikvah Choir.  Tomorrow, Torah Study and religious school as usual and our Shabbat morning service at 10:00 AM, which will be led by our 6^th grade Hebrew School class. 

Tomorrow night join us as we remember Debbie Friedman and commemorate her first Yahrzeit with a very special concert and sing-along.  Our Musical Shabbat musicians, Kol Tikvah Choir, and special guests will be performing.  Dinner from Flame Broiler (reservations required) will begin at 6:00 PM and the concert (free and open to the entire community) will begin at 7:00 PM.  The concert will also be broadcast live over the Internet atwww.templebethtikvah.com (click on Live Services). Have a wonderful weekend. 

Kenneth Milhander