This video offers a few reflections linking the Torah reading for Chol Ha-Mo'ed Pesach (the Intermediary Days of Passover - Ex. 33:12 - 34:26) to a famous passage from the Passover Haggadah.
The official Reform Movement's commentary on this week's portion has been posted here.
Chag Sameach!
Rabbi Jonathan Blake
Hi folks. I will make my maiden voyage leading Torah study this Saturday the 11th. Thus, I will surely comment on some of the same topics Rabbi Blake has so eloquently articulated.
ReplyDeleteThe seder is about questions, so I would like to pose four more as we prepare for Shabbbat Chol Hamoed.
1. Have you ever felt a direct encounter with G-d?
2. If yes, was this a one-on-one as Moses experienced or did the encounter take some other form (for instance, in dealing with one of the "four children," in observing a natural wonder, in solitude, etc.)?
3. Was your encounter a one-on-one or did you feel yourself to be a representative of a people?
4. Can we even fathom the concept of eternity?
Hag sameach and zissen pesach on this holiday of questions. Hope to see you come Shabbot. Bob
Rabbi Blake, if I followed your interesting remarks, you ask 3 questions:
ReplyDelete1. Why bless God before introducing the 4 types of children?
2. How do we encounter God?
3. Do you think likemindedness breeds militancy? and diversity, moderation?
I will share my answers to each of these in sequence in 3 separate posts.
A1: TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ALL OF US ARE GOD'S CREATIONS AND ALL OF US HAVE A STAKE IN THIS FOUNDATIONAL, PASSOVER STORY.
ReplyDeleteWhat is a blessing, or bracha? A blessing reminds us of "God's responsibility for all creation." [J.Telushkin: Jewish Literacy; p.669] We say blessings over food--who creates the fruit of the vine, who brings forth bread from the earth, who creates the fruit of the trees, who creates various kinds of foods (my personal favorite...). We also say blessings over natural wonders--lightning, a rainbow, or tomorrow morning's rare birkat hakhama--and on meeting a great Torah scholar.
To me, the 4 types of children are an accurate description of the People of Israel. Children, or sons, are used to engage parents and children. But, these descriptions are as accurate in portraying adult Jews. The Jewish People are diverse. We have wise ones, wicked ones, simple ones, and we especially have more than our share of those who often do not know how to ask (myself included). We are all God's creations. God didn't just create Talmudic scholars. He created all of us.
Therefore, the blessing of God (HaMakom), including his giving of Torah to the People of Israel, right before the description of the 4 "children" is nothing less than an acknowledgement by the rabbis who composed the Haggadah that the Jewish People is comprised of all kinds and we are all blessed.
Now, the 4 children are described in a personal way so that adult and child alike can understand that this story relates to ALL of us--whether we are an ordained rabbi or a Jew who is opening a Haggadah for the very first time, whether we are child or adult.
A2. WE ENCOUNTER GOD THROUGH COMMUNITY.
ReplyDeleteYou cite Buber: "We encounter God when we encounter other human beings...to experience the totality of God, we need a relationship with lots of different people."
To me, this means a Jew encounters God through Community--whether during regular prayer services in the synagogue, or through performing gemilut khasadim together with others or whether through our regular study of Torah together on shabbat mornings or through this electronic extension of our Community. Sure, it is possible to experience God one-on-one in unique places or under special circumstances. I still feel that I experienced God while standing in a parking lot in Talpiyot at dusk looking down upon the twinkling of lights across Yerushalayim and the surrounding hills, echoing calls to prayer by dozens of muezzins and the peal of bells from several monasteries. I also feel that I encountered God's hand a couple times during family health crises and in a near car accident in which my family and I miraculously escaped unscathed.
But, I believe that each of us experiences different attributes of God. And, as you said, only together do we hope to experience the totality of God.
Here is hoping that some or all of us continue to reach for this collective, holy experience every shabbat morning at WRT and through our computers on this community blog.
A3: SORT OF.
ReplyDeleteI know from personal experience that diversity can breed moderation.
I am unsure whether likeminded ness necessarily breeds militancy, or even extreme views.
But, diversity certainly offers a multiplicity of perspectives which can offer us a chance at achieving real understanding.
Likeminded ness can sometimes just reflect inexperience or a narrower education. It does not necessarily breed extremism/militancy or even prejudice.
I think that seeking out diversity makes us stronger and at the same time offers us--as Americans and as Jews--unity and long-term viability.
Turning inward into insular subgroups can only foster fragmentation and possibly future demise.
I will take these teachings with me into my family's sedarim tomorrow and on Thursday. If diversity is good, we will certainly be blessed, as my family around the seder table is from European, Asian, African, and American roots. My sister's host family is Modern Orthodox; my parents are Conservative; and I am most at home at WRT. The guests who are coming to join us can only experience bountiful intellectual moderation.
Khag sameakh, everyone. I hope to join you on shabbat.
Oh, and lest I forget...Rabbi Blake...
ReplyDelete"Blessed are You Adonai, our God, King of the Universe, who has given of His wisdom to those who revere Him."
Bob,
ReplyDeleteYour leadership was masterful.
What I didn’t expect was the appearance of Kant and talk of Christians.
There is an old story of monastic monks naming their dogs Kant, because he replaced faith with reason. Conversely, at Mount Sinai reason and the convenient, faith, were both given the ability to grow.
Therefore, the notion of kicking Kant around with Passover seemed as curious as matzah with a smear of Kant.
Here is a thread on Kant, Sinai, Hō and Halakha –Sinai as reaffirmation, and the beginning of a collective ethic causing us to return.
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/law/svara/svara_1-1_fletcher.pdf