|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rabbi Joel Lehrfield
|
| The Rabbi's Study |
| March, 2002 |
| For all intents and purposes,
Pesach marks the beginning of Jewish History. But what do we mean by Jewish
History? What is Jewish History? Out of the jumble of facts, names and places,
what is it that makes for Jewish History? It is my contention that all of
the experiences of our national and personal lives must be viewed through
the prism of Torah and the search for the Torah's meaning as conducted by
our Sages. The leading motif of our experience is that G-d works in history
through us. This may sound chauvinistic and arrogant, but the term "the
Chosen People" does have some ontological and phenomenological meaning.
When you write about Jewish History, you are really writing about the interface
between G-d and the Jewish people. Our history is the record of how Hashem
expresses His will through the actions of His creatures. Numbered foremost
among them is the Jewish People (whether we like it or not). We, in turn,
struggle with Him as to our function, for we are not always happy with the
role in which He casts us and so attempt to place ourselves in other roles.
We contend with G-d as to what our lives ought to be, both individually
and as a nation. Our history is the chronicle of that struggle with Hashem,
which is always with us. That is Jewish History. I never cease to be amazed
at how such a small segment of the human community seems to find itself
in the midst of history - or perhaps to say it better, is involved in the
making of history. For Jewish History seems to be often at the vortex of
world history. |
| This
article is appearing between the Holydays of Purim and Pesach. Both of these
Holydays are concerned with the issues of exile and redemption, destruction
and salvation, death and life. In the case of Purim, the struggle is between
physical life and death, between life uncontrolled by us and a future set
by our enemies, between a life in which we take charge of our destiny and
a life over which we have no control. We may view the events of the Purim
Story as being strange coincidences or we may view them as directed by G-d
who gives us the opportunity of rising to our potential. It is the position
of our sages that the events that constitute the Purim Story were directed
by G-d and not chance circumstances. It is this that I mean when I say that
history is a jumble of names, places and events. To be Jewish is to view
this jumble of names, places and events through the prism of the Torah and
the interpretation of our Sages. |
| The
story of Pesach must be understood in much the same manner. To illustrate
this more concretely, let us examine the Haggadah. The Haggadah informs
us that there are three Mitzvot associated with the telling of the Pesach
Story on the Seder Night. They are the Mitzvot of Pesach, Matzah, and Maror
(the Pascal Lamb, unleavened bread, bitter herbs). Each of these Mitzvot
connects us to part of the Pesach Story that is in itself connected to a
major theme in Jewish History and Jewish Life. That theme is, that the life
of the Jewish people portrays microcosmically what is the greater burden
of the human condition. As a people we struggle between the poles of exile
and bitterness, redemption and joy. What permits this movement between the
poles to take place, is our willingness to follow G-d wherever He leads,
whenever He chooses to do so. It is our daily tension as we contend with
G-d over the direction of our lives and the future of our people. |
| So,
when we read the daily newspapers, perhaps we should read them with a Jewish
eye. Certainly the difficulties of these times raise many questions. The
ongoing constant struggle of the State of Israel to exist and to grow, in
spite of its being at war, sometimes makes you wonder what will be. When
will it end? When will we be able to live in peace in our own land? These
questions are on everyone's lips. To be able to discern the pole of redemption
and joy and to see how once again we enter into the vortex of history -
there to do His Will until the day will come" when He will be one and
His name one, " is the struggle of our day. |
| Chavie and I wish you
a Kosher and Happy Pesach. May you enjoy it surrounded by loved ones and
friends. |
|
|
|
|