A Passover Sermon 5784
by Rabbi Gary M. Bretton-Granatoor
מה נשתנה הסידר הזה מכל הסידרים?
Why is this Seder different from all other Seders?
I write this not 48 hours from the moment hundreds of drones and missiles were launched from the Islamic Republic of Iran directed at multiple targets in Israel, and thankfully 99% were intercepted and destroyed. This is the first time Iran has attacked from within their country rather than using proxies in Yemen, Syria and Lebanon. 191 days ago, Hamas launched a vicious, deadly attack on Israel, and provoked a war on Gaza with Hamas using Palestinians, often women, children and the sick, as shields and victims. Over 200 hostages were taken by Hamas, and those few that were released told gruesome tales of their treatment – their abuse.
How difficult it was to gather with family and friends, a month and a half after October 7, to celebrate Thanksgiving. Many chose not to discuss the events in Israel and Gaza. Many put limits on what might be discussed. Generational divides became apparent, political leanings became evident… was the war just, was it prosecuted with care, were the hostages the first priority, was Israel doing everything possible to avoid the loss of innocent lives of Palestinians…. The questions were sometimes debated, but most avoided conflict with family and friends.
And now we prepare to gather for Passover to retell the story of our people’s difficult journey from the degradation of enslavement to redemption and freedom. I have often taught that the goal of the seder is to tell the story in such a way as those around the table can feel the burning sands under their feet – not to retell a story from long ago, but to tell our story – we escaped enslavement, and we journeyed through burning desert sands towards freedom and redemption. The readings of the Haggadah are like a script, and we are the players. So many of the parts of the Haggadah are dialogues, or soliloquies, or exchanges among a crowd.
But this year, there is a backdrop that mirrors the words on the pages of our text. Instead of a stage that we create in our homes, there is an actual stage upon which many of the themes of Passover are being played out before our eyes – on television and smartphone screens. Players in the ongoing drama are friends or family living in the war zone, prepared to run to safe rooms when a siren goes off. I listen to voices that articulate different opinions about what is going on, who is right, who is wrong, what is just and what is unjust. And of late, I find myself saying, “You are right” and “You are Right” – and I find myself silent, striving to hear the different voices and listening. Carl Rogers once taught that we must be active listeners – before we respond, we need to clearly state what we heard the original speaker say – and only when they agree that we understood what they said, can we respond. And we must agree that our response was heard and understood. Without this kind of active listening, we are not engaging in dialogue – an exchange of ideas — we are having competing monologues, which lead nowhere.
Against the backdrop of the Haggadah narrative, perhaps we can have gentle conversions, where people can feel safe expressing opposing points of views – and have their views heard. And we can (and probably will) disagree with one another. What has always made us a great people, is our ability to discuss, disagree, debate, challenge, and learn. That dynamism resonates within the pages of the Talmud. The Haggadah recognizes the various ways children learn and question. And the Jewish people survive and thrive because of our diversity – and our banter.
Our people have many stories – triumphs and failures. Out of the ashes of the Shoah, many sought life outside of Europe. They boarded ships to America – and they were turned away. Many returned to the land of our heritage and history, and a war was started by those who did not accept us. Only at great cost did we finally find places to live and thrive.
The Haggadah has a message – freedom comes at great cost – and sometimes those costs are almost too great to bear. But there is a vision – a hope – a dream: next year in Jerusalem. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But we pray for a day when all live free, at peace, unburdened by emnity, and tolerant of divergent opinions. Next year in Jerusalem may we all live in peace and security, Israelis and Palestinians, without the bread of affliction on our tables, but the bread of peace.
An important note to those who will be on Nantucket for Passover. We have been made aware that Stop and Shop does have Egg Matzah and Gluten-free Matzah, but it is traditional at the Passover seder to have plain Matzah. Our member, Hershel Allerhand, has obtained enough Matzah for the Seder that he is able to share with those who want it. If you are interested, please contact Hershel by phone 508-221-1978.
May you all have a zeisen Pesach! Happy, and meaningful, Passover!