MARCH 2021 Adar -Nisan 5781 1011 N. Market Street Frederick, MD 21701 Volume 22 301-663-3437 Issue 8 [email protected] www.bethsholomfrederick.org PASSOVER 2021/5781 BEGINS IN THE EVENING OF SATURDAY, MARCH 27 AND ENDS IN THE EVENING OF SUNDAY, APRIL 4 Chag Sameach Rabbinic Reflections - The Seder Offers a True Conversation RABBI JORDAN HERSH | [email protected] Pesach is a time to which I look for- night: “The Hebrew word for Egypt, Mitzrayim, literally means ward each year. As for many of us, ‘narrow places.’ In what way(s) have you experienced freedom this this holiday is filled with emotional year or in your life from your own mitzrayim, narrow/restrictive reverberations from my child- places?” Make some time for each person to share his or her own hood, as I recall my father leading personal journey of freedom. Allow this to become a conversation our family seder which was held in about the nature of freedom and how we can best actualize it in a room whose walls were almost our lives. How does the story of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt bursting with family and friends. allow us to better understand our own stories? Perhaps equaled only by Thanksgiv- ing, this is a holiday that seems to necessitate familial proximity if This year, in particular, we can relate so deeply to our ancestors’ it is to feel at all like Pesach. need to escape their restrictive places. For me, ending the seder with the words, “Next Year in Jerusalem,” will be an expression We have learned over this past year however, to find a semblance of hope for the ability to travel, to Israel or elsewhere, and for the of normalcy in the ability to gather virtually. I imagine many general freedom to move about in our world. will be maintaining this practice as we enter our second COVID Pesach. But no matter how we gather, in person or virtually, we Just as we celebrate our past, present and future relationships with come together as family and friends around our (multiple) seder those with whom we are gathered and with those who came before tables, and we celebrate not only our past together, but also our us, so too do we celebrate our ourselves and our personal, as well present and our future. Each seder, though only a small unit, com- as collective, stories of freedom. Pesach is about good food, good bines with all of the s’darim (plural of seder) taking place in Jewish friends and good conversation. While most of us will be tempted homes around the world to create a reality in which all Jews are to lament the lack of physical gathering, those who are gathering engaged in one large communal conversation concerning our col- around virtual seder tables can take refuge in the blessing of being lective story of our emergence from slavery to freedom. able to gather with those with whom we might not have otherwise had the opportunity of sharing this experience. You can still make The central part of the seder, known as maggid (which literally this year’s seder into a true conversation about the nature of free- means “telling”), is the account of the Exodus as told through the dom, how you have lived the Exodus in your own life and focus on rabbinic mind. While most often simply read, either by the seder the hope of redemption in this coming year. leader or by taking turns around the table, this part of the seder is meant to be a true conversation, not a mere recitation of words on a page. The Haggadah should become a text which inspires ques- tions to be asked and talk to ensue. Unfortunately, as with most traditions, the written words became understood as the essence of MINYAN AT BSC the ritual and what becomes important is making sure that every word in the Hagaddah is read, rather than creating a lively discus- Please join us on Zoom sion about its central themes. Thursdays at 8:45 AM for The truth is that this approach to the Pesach seder actually misses the point. The maggid section is meant to be a guide by which a minyan. Contact real conversation about the Exodus and Freedom develop. Take the famous “Four Questions” as an example. The folk custom has Mark Vallon or Rabbi Hersh to join become that the youngest child or children recite the four ques- tions, as if their turn in the script has arrived. However, the Mishnah which is the ancient rabbinic source for the Four Questions, makes it plainly clear that these are four questions which the Seder leader should ask if a child hasn’t already asked some of his or her own questions by that point. The idea is that children (and adults for that Torah STUDY matter) should be asking questions and fostering conversation. JOIN US EVERY SUNDAY Family s’darim are often unique experiences and each one is AT 11:30 A.M. VIRTUALLY slightly different than then next. Perhaps this year offers us the To join in, contact Monda Sagalkin opportunity to join in seders we wouldn’t have in previous years and to experience new family customs. One tradition that I am at [email protected] fond of, the goal of which is to foster conversation, is to ask each guest to think about the following question prior to the seder 2 Beth Sholom Congregation Message from the President SHARON EDELSTEIN | [email protected] Spring is on the horizon, and along with it my favorite holiday, Pesach (yes, Book Club I love matzo, and especially matzo ball Our next meeting will be on March 21 at soup)! And of course, it’s a great oppor- 10am. We will be discussing We Were The tunity for a spring cleaning! As we did Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter. The novel is last year, most of us will hold Zoom sed- a fictionalized account of the true story of ers, still avoiding in-person gatherings the Kurc family and their experiences during with family and friends for a few more World War II, beginning in their hometown months while we await everyone to be of Radom, Poland in 1939. vaccinated. If you are looking for a vir- tual seder to attend, please get in touch with Rob, Rabbi or myself. The author is the granddaughter of one of the We will find you an appropriate virtual seder and can lead you children in the family. The book spans eight years following the through setting up a way to join virtually on either the first or Kurc family members to several countries and continents, includ- second night of Pesach. ing, Austria, Italy, Argentina, South America, and Siberia as the war continues and finally ends. I find it both hard to believe that we’ve been dealing with covid-19 for a year now, and yet it feels like much longer. This pandemic is The book is a story of survival and family love. The book is a roller weighing us all down - we’re struggling with Zoom fatigue, missing coaster “read” you will not forget! our friends and family, tired of staying home and wishing we could vacation, travel, or simply go out for dinner. We’re trying to stay in touch with each other, but occasionally people get left out. Please do Rosh Chodesh Group reach out if you need a virtual hug, a conversation, if you could use The first day of each Jewish month, some help with groceries, meals or medications, or anything else. the celebration of the new moon, is a day historically related to women’s Meanwhile, activities at Beth Sholom continue, with the Reverse renewal and celebration. As the moon Raffle ongoing for a few more weeks, and we’re hoping to hold an prepares to make its reemergence into outdoor gala later this spring. We are looking for volunteers. If you the night sky, we prepare ourselves to want to serve in any capacity, start a new group, run an event, or if you be spiritually attuned and awakened have an idea for something we could be doing either virtually or as to its light and its power. We give our- we slowly begin to re-open, please get in touch with me at smabeg@ selves the gift of tuning into our own gmail.com and I’ll send you to the right person. The reopening com- power as we appreciate and celebrate the moments of each month mittee will meet in March to discuss resuming in-person services and that are significant and meaningful to us as Jewish women. other events, following CDC, state and county guidelines. Join us every month as we gather for learning, ritual, and spiritual As a reminder, our Double Your Dues (if you are able) campaign exploration to celebrate Rosh Chodesh with Cantor Shulie! continues - we’re nearly halfway to our goal! Please donate what This month’s gathering will take place at 3:30 pm, Sunday, you are able, doubling your dues if possible. You can donate directly March 14, on Zoom. using the link on the website (https://www.bethsholomfrederick. org/support-us/donate), or you can send a check, or you can call Rob and he will add your pledge to a future bill. We have placed a target on the website to keep everyone informed of how our Dou- ble Your Dues (if you are able) campaign is progressing. I thank Support The you from the bottom of my heart.