The Charoset Mindset

Rabbi Yuval Cherlow The Charoset Mindset f all the symbols on Seder Based on this debate, there are two Universe, let my food be bitter as an Night, perhaps charoset is the types of explanation. According to the olive but given into Your hand, and let most difficult to understand. first opinion in the Mishna, charoset is it not be sweet as honey but dependent OOn Seder Night, we see something perceived as part of the gastronomic on flesh and blood” (Eruvin 18b). In quite unusual, in that we are directives to soften the sharpness contrast, the Biblical “honey” refers to commanded to cite the reasons for the of the maror; however, according to the date, which symbolizes sweetness. mitzvah as part of the mitzvah itself. Rabbi Elazar, the charoset is not just Therefore, one of the ways to One who does not explain why he is an accessory to eating the maror but characterize our bond with our eating “Pesach, Matzah and Maror” expresses something in itself, only that history, and with the G-d who has not fulfilled his obligation. Not the Mishna did not tell us what this something is. manages that history, is the dialectic only that, but Halacha also determines transition between bitterness and the official explanation for each of The Gemara and the Midrash offer sweetness. This is not simply stating these mitzvot on Seder Night. One two explanations: one deals with the that sometimes we had good times cannot suggest one’s own reason, but texture of the charoset, reminding and sometimes bad, because we eat must state the ‘official’ reason. This us of the mud our forefathers were both on Seder Night, and both are is a very special halacha, because in forced to use in their slavery in Egypt. connected to the same event – the general Halacha does not involve itself The second deals with the ingredients Exodus from Egypt. The bitterness with the reasons the mitzvot were of the charoset, particularly the and the sweetness – according to our given, but only the actions we have apple, claiming it reminds us of the weltanschauung – occur at one and to perform. Moreover, even when apple trees under which the women the same time. The period itself was dealing with reasons, there is a broad comforted their husbands after a terrible, and so we eat maror. But it spectrum of possibilities, and Jewish rough and tough day at work, and also engendered things we couldn’t philosophers throughout the ages have where they gave birth to their babies. have engendered without Egypt and offered many explanations for every its challenges, and so we also give Of course, the fact that charoset does mitzvah, while here there is one formal thanks for that, by dipping the maror not carry an ‘official’ explanation ruling of the reason for these mitzvot. in charoset. opens the door for much exegesis, Against this backdrop, charoset stands creativity, and personal interpretation. And this is a very fundamental out. We do not know the source or So, when we examine the range of mindset we teach ourselves on Seder the reason. It doesn’t explicitly appear theories, we find a widespread theme Night: even during the most bitter in the Torah and it’s not clear why dealing with the charoset’s special times, a certain sweetness is created, sweetness that could not have been we are obliged to eat it, or even if we sweetness, and with the contrast created without the challenges. Even are obliged to eat it, according to between the bitterness of the maror at a time when G-d hides His face the Torah. In the Mishna (Pesachim and the sweetness of the charoset. In fact, the juxtaposition of sweetness from us, so to speak, “Though I walk 10:3), there is a Tannaic debate on this and bitterness already appears in the through the valley of darkness, I fear question, in which the basic position is Seven Species. The last two species are no evil, for You are with me.” “charoset is not mandatory.” However, “olive oil and honey.” “Rabbi Elazar son of Rabbi Zadok says it is mandatory.” The very fact there is Chazal refer to the olive as an Rabbi Yuval Cherlow is a Rosh Yeshiva a debate on whether there is a Torah expression of something bitter, for and a founding member of an organization obligation to eat charoset just adds to example, “The dove said before the devoted to bridging the religious-secular the mystery. Holy One Blessed be He: Master of the divide in Israel 40 | .

Load more