Thinking Torah Blog

Mitzrayim is the Hebrew name for Egypt. Our sages famously suggest rereading that name, not as an actual place but as a reference to meitzar, narrowness. For our sages, Egypt (Mitzrayim) was a place of restriction or narrowness (meitzar).  

This Passover will be unlike any most of us have ever observed; with the ongoing war in Gaza, the possibility of a regional war with Iran, and the hostages literally being held in narrow places, the Jewish community's sense of insecurity and injustice is constantly present for many of us. What does it mean to sit at our seder tables celebrating freedom when so many in our community are being held captive, and Palestinians are being used as human shields? I would suggest this is the most important Passover many of us have ever observed. 

We all know that communal opinion on the war is not monolithic and that passions are high on both sides, even within families. Some of us may be dreading the possibility of unrest at our seder tables. I suggest we continue to learn from the seder even as we enter it with some anxiety. There is a famous quip: when you ask a rabbi a question, she responds with a question in return. This isn’t so far from the truth. In Judaism, a good question is far more interesting than a correct answer. In fact, questions are the very heart of the seder. We ask four questions and discuss four children, each with their own type of question. We sing dayenu, with the implication, would it have been enough?  

Especially around emotionally charged issues, the answers we passionately feel are a source of our narrowness. We dig in our heels, scoff at different opinions, and find ourselves unable to identify with those who don’t share our perspective. Bondage is the refusal to allow questioning.  

This Passover, may we all make room for questions and sit in the expansiveness of inquiry.  

P.S. Don’t forget that Passover is one of our sacred festivals, and as such, we have festival morning services. Join us in person or online, Tuesday, April 23rd at 9:15 AM for Festival morning services.