Shalom, I can’t believe it’s already Passover! Where did the year go? I guess this means it’s time to start the Spring house cleaning. But, first, a little procrastination. Have you ever noticed that Passover is surrounded by “groups of four”? Which ones can you name?
What comes to mind are the 4 cups of wine, the 4 children, and the 4 questions. I think that each of these “4’s” has a message for us, and that rethinking the traditional four questions can provide us with a meaningful new ritual for our Seder tables.
4 CUPS. Why four, you may wonder? Perhaps it’s to put us in a good mood, or to get us through to the end of the seder, or even to provide levity when so much family may be gathered around the table. The traditional reason given for four is that it mirrors the four expressions of redemption, found in Exodus 6:6-7: “I am the Lord. I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm…and I will take you to be My people…” So, we drink 4 cups because we are really free.
4 CHILDREN. Oy, that’s a lot of kids (and fun of course)! One of the explanations I like best for the four children is that we have a little bit of each of them inside of us, and it would serve us well to be aware and conscious of each of them.
4 QUESTIONS. We are obligated to not only ask questions, but to teach our children to do the same. You may wonder, though, “What if there are no children present at the seder? Then, who asks the questions?” Tradition has it that if there are no children present, then the man or woman of the house asks them, and if one of these isn’t present, then anyone at the table may ask them.
And, even if for some reason a person must celebrate Passover alone, then he or she is to ask the questions out loud – “Why is this night different?” It is so important to ask questions that we are even encouraged to talk out loud to ourselves!
A NEW RITUAL. This Passover, at your own seders, I invite you to put a glass or bowl on the table. Before the Seder, ask each person to write down four big questions on a slip of paper without their names. The questions can be about life, death, G-d – whatever. Remember, the point is to ask questions. After the traditional reading of the four questions, pass the bowl around the table, and have each person read the other questions out loud.
Why is this night different from all other nights? On this night we come together as individuals, as friends, as families, and as a community to celebrate our freedom -- and to hear each other’s questions.
Happy Passover,
Rabbi Mark
