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| PESACH 2008 - 5768 It is Pesah one more year. We Jews have always celebrated Passover not only as the very significant anniversary of our liberation, but also as a time of the year for consolation, family reunion, and purification of our soul by reconnecting with our most deeply rooted traditions and customs. The disposal of Hametz in our homes is symbolic of our desire to rid ourselves of any negative traits and habits and the eating of Matzoth evokes our alliance with G-d and the unity of our people. Passover is known in the Torah as HAG HAMATZOT “The festival of the unleavened bread”. However, in Rabbinic literature this holiday is always referred to as PESAH. If we take a look at the narrative in the Torah we may understand this duality in the way we demonstrate the holiday. Each name reflects a different approach to life as Jews. Chag Hamatzot points out the low character and inept attitude of our ancestors. On that crucial night over 3300 years ago Moses, the leader, had given them ample warning in advance that the day of deliverance was close. One would have expected them to load supplies and clothes for their journey to the desert. Instead they were hesitant and full of doubts. In the end, they had to be forced out of Egypt with unfermented bread. We read LO YACHELU LEHITMAHMEAH. They could not stay any longer KI GORSHU MIMITZRAYIM for they were driven away from Egypt. With this attitude, it is no surprise to see these Israelites at any difficult moment during their wandering in the desert proclaim NASHUBA MITZRAIMA: Let us return to Egypt. The name Pesah however, reflects the more positive approach. Pesah is the name of the first pascal sacrifice the Israelites offered while still in Egypt. They dared to slaughter what was considered an Egyptian deity in order to show they were not only being freed physically, but spiritually too. This action entailed a lot of danger and only those who showed the courage to defy their Egyptian neighbors merited to come out. This is why they had to paint their doorpost with the blood of the sacrifice that night. Pesah, according to our Rabbis, is made up of the Hebrew words PE (mouth) and SAH (speaks) which is a reference to the Mitzva of VEHIGADTA LEBINCHA: YOU SHALL TELL YOUR CHILD a reference to the Haggada but most important a reference to our guiding light of all these centuries of Jewish history: Educating our children in Judaism. Which actually, is what Pesah is all about. Jewish education has, and will always be our source of strength—the “spine” of our communities and our permanent assurance to face the future. So, no wonder we prefer to identify the holiday as Pesah because it shows where our success lies as a people. If we have the courage to live as Jews, without shame, and to show our pride of what we are, we can pass on to our children the wonderful values of the Torah and we will remain strong... So today, when Pesah comes it is an opportunity not only to celebrate but also to reflect on ourselves, our lives, and make the choice of what type of Jew one wants to be: the MATZOT Jew, hesitant and doubtful, insecure of his identity and lacking faith, or the Pesah Jew, who is proud of his origin and accepts the challenge of securing the future even when doing so is not what those around expect of you. I hope and pray for a Pesah Kasher versameah for all of us and where we all keep making the right choices. Raquel and I look forward to a wonderful Pesah at EB, wish you all Pesah Allegre, and hope to see you at Kal. Salomon Cohen-Scali |