The National Jewish Passover Greetings Post&Opinion Volume 76, Number 14 • March 24, 2010 • 9 Nisan 5770 Two Dollars www.jewishpostopinion.com Art by John J Domont NAT 2 March 24, 2010 The responsum discuss the rise of Editorial About the Cover Shabbat Shalom the prohibitions that don’t stand on any solid ground. The Search for Grace in the Wilderness Okay, that point taken, it doesn’t make BY RABBI JON ADLAND The following by Reb Zalman by artist John Domont is the primary it any easier for me, rationally or not, to Schachter-Shalomi is an introduction to calling of the self for a harmonious March 19, 2010, Vayikra eat these foods, but I believe that the his interpretation of the four sons in relationship with Life. The myth of (Leviticus 1:1–5:26), 4 Nisan 5770 Reform and Conservative opinions are the Haggadah. Passover is a spring time ritual, as we correct; legumes and rice should not be “The Torah mentions four times that it leave the darkness of winter, of the Yesterday morning I went to get my prohibited. If you are going to take Pesach is important to share with one’s child womb, and exit through the birth canal haircut (what’s left of it) at the barbershop seriously and restrict your diet, it should about the Exodus. The rabbis derived (the Red Sea), we are born as individuals in Greenbriar that is next to the Baskin be restricted to not eating the five grains from Scripture something about the and as a people. Robbins and a few doors down from the – wheat, oat, rye, barley, and spelt – in any The primary need for relationship character of the children that suited their new kosher bakery. Why am I telling you form other than unleavened. This means interpretation. But that’s not the only begins with birth. Passover is a time for this? Because at the beginning of the that any product that contains these possible way of reading the injunctions to union with self, body and the universe. haircut, Claudia, my barber, wanted to grains is not permitted. share with our children. The rabbis also The angel of death must be confronted know why the kosher bakery needed to For me, I change my diet at this season said that there are 70 facets of possible at every level, whether it is cleaning interpretations to Torah. Here then is yeast from the body. Microbes healthy close for the week of Pesach. I explained for one week to feel in some small way another facet that may be closer to the and parasitic typify the confrontation of that Jewish law mandates that no bread that I, too, am on a journey with my way we might relate to our children in a consciousness vs. unconsciousness, they or any products made from grain that isn’t ancestors out of Egypt. They had to pack more contemporary manner.” support or thwart our wandering in the unleavened bread be consumed during quickly, take what they could, and eat on The interpretation below can be found desert, the wilderness of life on our journey this week. A kosher bakery shouldn’t the run. (Not on the run like driving on the Reb Zalman Legacy Project to divine union. We are responsible for be making products that are unkosher through McDonald’s and getting a quick Web site at this address: www.rzlp.org/ how we survive in the wilderness, how we for Pesach, and the Orthodox Jewish French fry fix.) The one week diet reminds wordpress/?m=200903. manage our bodies, our consciousness, community isn’t going to patronize the me that the journey to freedom isn’t easy and our prayers. bakery during that week at all. and that to reach freedom, we must take The Torah speaks of four children: Passover is the howling of the energy of There is always a lot of discussion at a look at who we are, how we live, how One a lamden (sharp student), one a isolation and need, of fear and hope, and this time of year about what you can we act, and how we behave. So for a week chossid (high emotional quotient), one a yet it demands action and faith. and can’t eat at Pesach if you want to be I eat fruits and veggies, eggs and matzah, tamim (good one), and one she-ayn lo faithful to tradition. What follows is from meat and fish, and I don’t eat bread, shum s’fekut u’b’eyot (one who does not About the artist the Reform response. The Conservative pasta, cereal, cake, or any of my regular doubt or question). In his late 20s, John Domont worked position is similar. diet of food. I don’t eat out even though I When the sharp student asks: (Deut exclusively for conservation groups This Committee, in particular, in its possibly could. I eat my Pesach foods and 6:20) “[What are the testimonies, the photographing threatened habitats and approach to the answering of the she’elot when the week is over, the pizza is waiting. statutes and the laws] which havaya our endangered species around the world. (questions) submitted to it, has tended to I can only urge you to think about God has commanded you?” and so you (see Cover, page NAT 3) uphold the standards of traditional practice Pesach as a special week to think about shall answer him or her according to the except in those cases where good and what it means to be free. As a dear friend capacity of his or her sharpness of wit. j i sufficient cause exists to depart from them. reminded me, freedom isn’t just another When the high emotional quotient As a young child or when one is very And our movement has recognized for word for nothing left to lose. Freedom is one asks: (Exodus 12: 26) “[What is] this old, the desire to be better than the other nearly two centuries that the prohibition of much, much more and when you aren’t service to you?”So you will make an effort player(s) becomes paramount. Because of rice and legumes is just such a case. This free to eat whatever you want, the journey to reign in his or her longings, for he or this, when two of similar ages/abilities are observance, which presents a significant has begun. she also wants to be a part of the integrity playing, they both strive to win. However, burden upon Jews during Pesach, has no When you light your Shabbat candles and perfection that comes with meaningful if an adult is playing with a child or elderly halakhic justification: the Talmud clearly this evening, light one for freedom. Light rituals. If you are loving, then he or she person, the goal becomes different for the will understand devekut (cleaving), and he adult.The adult doesn’t need to feel better rejects the suggestion that rice and legumes the other to remind us to never take or she will get a taste of what it means to by winning but wants to give the child or are chametz, and the likelihood that our freedom for granted, but continue to feel close to God. elderly person a chance to feel good about people will confuse legume dishes with work on it each and every day. When the good one asks: (Exodus his or her ability to play.The challenge for chametz dishes is too remote to be taken into Rabbi Adland is senior rabbi of 13:14) “What is this?” and so you shall the adult is how to let the young child or serious consideration. Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation. bear witness to him or her from your the very elderly person win the game own experience, that hashem yitbarach without him or her suspecting that the The National Jewish is assisting you with ‘a strong hand,’ to adult is not giving it his or her all. take you out and to take him or her out This “game” is similar if one of the of Mitzrayim. players is sick, depressed, grieving a loss, For the one who does not question, handicapped, an orphan, a foreigner, and Post &Opinion you will feed him or her some maror so forth, because we were once strangers (horse radish), so he or she will feel his or in the land of Egypt and who knows www.jewishpostopinion.com her friends’troubles and so that compassion when or where we may be strangers will be instilled in his or her heart. again. In other words, in the game of life, Editorial and sales offices located at The Jewish Post & Opinion we must take note of the very young and 238 S. Meridian St., Suite 502, Indianapolis, IN 46225 Published biweekly by office: (317) 972-7800 • fax: (317) 972-7807 The Spokesman Co., Inc. After reading this and Bernie old, and those needy in many different (USPS 275-580) (ISSN 0888-0379) DeKoven’s beautiful column regarding ways, because one day we or one of our [email protected] Periodicals postage paid at Passover being about “coliberation”verses loved ones may be in a similar situation. Address correspondence to: Indianapolis, IN 238 S. Meridian St., Suite 502, Indianapolis, IN 46225 simply collaboration and liberation (see My question this Passover is how to All circulation correspondence should be addressed to page NAT 5), I had some thoughts relating teach the children to simply do their best, Publishers Advertising Director Accounting The National Jewish Post & Opinion, to both.