beiteinuview Passover 2019 our house The patriarch Abraham asked,” shall the judge of all the The Good Question earth not do justice?” He had the ability to question I heard a story about Isidor I. Rabi, the 1944 Nobel God’s decision to sweep away the innocent along with Prize winner in physics. Doctor Rabi was once asked, the guilty of Sodom and Gomorrah. Moses follows the “Why did you become a scientist, rather than a doctor Abrahamic example by asking God why he was chosen or lawyer, like the other kids in your neighborhood?” to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. The prophet My mother made me a scientist. Every other Jewish Jeremiah said,” you are always righteous, oh Lord, mother in Brooklyn would ask her child after a day when I bring a case before You, yet I would speak with at school: ‘So, did you learn anything today?’ Not my you about your justice: why does the way of the mother. She always asked me a different question. wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?” Izzy, she would say, ‘Did you ask any good questions Questioning is at the heart Jewish of spirituality. today?’ “That difference made me a scientist”. Asking a question is a profound expression of faith in He understood something very important- that the meaningfulness of human life. We Jews ask, not becoming a successful professional was driven by because we doubt, but because we believe. In biblical his ability to ask good questions. A person in any area Hebrew there is no word that means “obey”. Instead of life needs to cultivate the habit of asking good the Torah uses the word shema, meaning, “to hear, questions. Doctors understand the need to ask listen, reflect on, internalize and respond.” God expects questions and listen carefully to the answers before not blind obedience, but an understanding response. prescribing a successful treatment. Therapists know Many of us remember with fondness, sitting as a the value of asking good questions for successful young child around the Passover table asking the counseling. Employers utilize the power of effective four questions. With our parents and grandparents questions in successfully determining which watching us with pride, our first real participa- applicant to hire. tion with the family in a Jewish tradition was Dr. Rabi’s answer reflects the value through those four questions. Even though Jewish tradition places on challenging and we were reading from a script provided raising questions. In the Yeshiva, the home by our tradition, we learned early on that of traditional Talmudic learning, the highest questions were good. complement a teacher can give a student The question was asked: “Why does is,” you asked a good question.” The most the youngest child ask the same four important educational goal has never questions year after year?” One been indoctrination. It is teaching a answer suggested that as we grow child to be curious, to wonder, reflect and change, our questions take on and inquire. The child who feels new meanings and the answers confident enough to ask, becomes to them differ. Because we grow a partner in the learning process. and change, we understand To ask is to grow. The heroes of that there is no one right our faith asked questions of answer. As we grow and God. From our earliest change, a new person ancestors we received among us may be asking examples of asking the the questions for the hard questions. first time. Over the years, I have heard stories from Jewish adults describing their beiteinu frustration over having their questions not taken seriously. They felt judged SYNAGOGUE or were humiliated by teachers who may have felt threatened by being asked philosophical questions about god, heaven, hell or anything else. Jewish learning on all levels depends on asking questions and respectfully challenging other’s positions. To be part of the people of the book, is to © 2019 Beiteinu Synagogue Passover 2019 take pride in learning and questioning. Beiteinu View is published When our people were given the Torah at Mount Sinai, they responded three times a year. with the words: “naaseh v’nishmah” (Exodus 24:7). These words could be Beiteinu Synagogue understood as: “we will do and then we will understand”. In other words, the P.O. Box 231, Jews agreed to live according to the instruction from God, even as Haverford, PA 19041 they were in the process of questioning and learning to understand the Phone: 484-432-0931 ways of God. A Rabbi once said: “we are all closer to God when we are asking questions then when we think we have all the answers”. Email: [email protected] Web: www.beiteinu.org This Passover season I encourage each one of you reading this message to Rabbi and Founder submit a question related to some aspect of the holiday. I promise that I will Howard Cove respond with meaningful answers to your inquiry. What an appropriate way to celebrate the holiday that is built around the question: WHY is this night Marketing, Strategic Planning and Editor different from all other nights?” Staci Goldberg Levick Creative Director, Photography, Production and Editorial Assistant Passover Traditions Monique Brand Treasurer Around The World Sam Cove Some Ethiopian Jews smash their dishes and cookware and make new Beiteinu Synagogue is a ones to signify their hope for renewal and redemption. 501(c)3 charitable organization supported by public and private In a small Polish town some Jewish people mark Passover by re-enact- donations. All contributions to the ing the crossing of the Red Sea. They pour water on the floor, lift their Synagogue are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. coats and walk across giving thanks with a glass of wine as they go. Beiteinu invites your correspondence. Nepal hosts the world’s largest celebration of Passover in Kathmandu, We welcome your comments, called “Seder on top of the world.” observations and suggestions. Please It is attended by send your letters to Beiteinu, either at the address listed above or Jewish locals and email : [email protected]. travelers who have come for the unique Follow experience. the Blog Rabbi Cove’s Blog Post See what Rabbi Cove has to say about a variety of topics. www.beiteinu.org/rabbis-blog Member Spotlight It’s All in The Family Meet the Levins Let me introduce you to the Levin family, Is there a Doctor in the House? starting with Stephanie and Michael. The In his youth, Michael enjoyed Levin’s have been blessed with two sons; sailing and swimming. Nowadays, he Andrew and Noah. The Levin family strives is enamored with hiking. He is often to inspire Jewish learning, good healthy food found on the trails with his children, choices and to support their community life. having fun and appreciating nature Raised in Richboro, Bucks County, PA with together. One of the greatest rewards is for one older brother, Stephanie enjoyed an his family to spend time together. Stephanie involved high school career as a flag twirler is very active in volunteering. She helped in the school band as well as being active in run the holiday gift shop at the children’s USY. Her parents were founding members school and quickly realized the importance of Ohev Shalom Synagogue. She remembers of the children seeing the joy of gift-giving. fondly the family feasts with mom baking for Stephanie divides her time between being all the Jewish holidays. Stephanie’s mother PTO president in Noah’s school, tending to was an elementary school teacher and her her own garden and also volunteering in a dad an accountant. What else could she garden that supports Weaver’s Way. She choose to be but a teacher of mathematics?! loves the hours she spends under the sun. Her first job was at Cherry Hill High School It is with these fresh ingredients that she West. It was while she was working there makes her meals from scratch. Stephanie that she met her husband Michael. proudly reports that they eat as a family Stephanie attended a New Year’s Eve party almost every night. with her brother when she first saw Michael. Both parents are very serious about having The rest is history or as we like to say now, a Jewish home. They set out to find a “herstory.” synagogue that would meet their family’s Michael lived in Narberth, PA, and went to needs however they, but had difficulty Friends Central High School. His mother was finding one that resonated with them. They a teacher, his dad was a physician, and his wanted their children to enjoy being father’s father was a pharmacist. It seems Jewish and feel comfortable with their destiny for Michael to graduate from PCOM Rabbi. G_d works in mysterious ways. During and be a Nephrologist. their search for a Jewish community, they attended the wedding of their good friends, Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? Pam and Zach Cooper. They were Together, Michael and Stephanie have been fortunate to meet Rabbi Cove and learn blessed with two great boys, Andrew and about Beiteinu. It was a perfect fit. Beiteinu Noah. Andrew is 11 year s old and in fifth and Rabbi Cove offered the warm, accepting grade. He is an avid Eagles fan. He says his and opening Jewish community that they favorite thing in his bedroom is the poster were in search of. Stephanie and Michael he received 2 years ago from the movie want their children to have a strong Jewish “CARS” (signed by the creator).