Passover Message from Rabbi Gelber

April 6, 2020/12 Nisan 5780

Dear Friends,

We are into Week 4 of this new rhythm of life. Living more intentionally about how we wash hands. Perhaps developing technological skills we've always left to others. Attuning our ears to the sounds of fear and hope. I won't call this our new normal. Nothing about the world today is normal.

Years from now, how we will tell the story of this time? That question is at the core of our seder experience.  B'chol dor vador chayav adam lirot et atzmo k'ilu hu yatzah mimitzrayim/in every generation one is obligated to see oneself as having gone out of Egypt. If all of us were at Sinai, all of us can imagine having fled Egypt - matzah and tambourines in our backpacks. We see (lirot) ourselves in our mind's eye having withstood the uncertainty of our fate. Walking through squishy, muddy land with walls of water on either side. Unreal.

Unreal. It is the word I use today as I look out my window and see groups of people congregating on the sidewalk in the sun. It's the word I use as I learn of those who have died and receive invitations for shiva on zoom. Enough. Enough. Enough. 

B'chol dor vador chayav adam lirot et atzmo k'ilu hu yatzah mimitzrayim. Each of us, time and time again is called to watch ourselves throw off the fetters of slavery and claim our freedom. It is a very personal claim. But these words are not for us alone. As Jews, we exist as part of a collective. This is why the rasha/rebellious child gets a hard rap. It is this child who separates from the community. While our story of liberation is personal, it is similarly communal. We come together to tell this story as part of a collective. We cannot opt out. As much as we are responsible for ourselves, we are responsible for one another. 

Wednesday night, we will sit down to tell the story of our redemption. The Rambam imagined what it would be like to have seder alone. About that he said, If you are alone, ask yourself Ma Nishtanah? The seder calls us to speak from our own experience, to share our own narrative no matter who else is in the house or sharing the table with us. 

This week, do just that. Ask yourself, how are things different? How am I different? How far am I willing to see? How will I tell this story of transformation from shame to praise, from slavery to freedom?

Looking for materials to guide, enhance and support your seder? Try out my website RGSLAVERY TO FREEDOM at
https://rabbilisagelber.wixsite.com/mysite  where you'll find links to download Haggadot, registration for virtual/zoom seders around the country, recipes, music, guiding questions and a new prayer for candle-lighting this year. Keep in mind if you click on the download sign ON the home page images, you'll download the image itself. Under Preparations and Prayer you'll find a link to Cantor Halev singing Kiddush, just like he would at our community seder. Other community members and staff appear throughout. For those who'd rather look at matzah than eat it after seder, try out the Where's Waldo type matzah search. If you want to experience an entire seder led by rabbis from around the country, check out the Rabbinical Assembly's Seder Made to Order - 5780/2020 of which I am a part. You'll need to register with email and password to enter the wix site and access resources.

B'chol dor vador/in every generation. No matter the time, we stand as a link among the generations. This year, we'll see ourselves holding hands so that next year we can link arms in person.

Hag Kasher v'Sameach,

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay home.

rg