FromDisgracetoPraise
RabbiAriLucas
RightbeforePurim,Iparticipatedinawhirlwindtwo-daytripto Washington,DC,organizedbytheGreaterMetroWestFederationfora cohortoflocalAfrican-AmericanandJewishleaderswhomI’vebeen meetingwithoverthepasttwoyears.Ourgoalistostrengthen relationshipsbetweenourcommunitiesandtolearnmoreabouteach other’shistories,cultures,andexperiencessothatwecansupportone anothermoredeeply.
DuringthetripwevisitedboththeNationalMuseumofAfrican AmericanHistoryandCulture(NMAAHC)andtheUnitedStates HolocaustMemorialMuseum(USHMM).I’lladmitthatIwasdistracted bythenewscomingoutofIsraelandIran checkinginwithfriends, familymembers,andcongregantsaffectedbythewar.Butsomehow, strengtheningJewishcommunalrelationshipswithourneighborsand partnersfeltlikesomethingIcoulddoamidstthehelplessnessofthe momenttomakeadifference.
Iwasstruckbyhowbothmuseumsarephysicallydesignedtotella story.
AttheNMAAHC,thenarrativebeginsinthedepths.Visitorsstartinthe basement,wherethemuseumrecountsthehistoryofAfrican enslavement,theMiddlePassage,andthebrutalrealitiesofslaveryin colonialandearlyAmericanhistory.Theartifactsconfrontvisitorswith thevisceralcrueltyanddehumanizationofthatsystem shackles,an auctionblockandledger.Asyoumovethroughthemuseum,however, youquiteliterallyriseupward throughemancipation, Reconstruction,JimCrow,andtheCivilRightsmovement—untilthe topfloorscelebratethesocial,cultural,economic,andpolitical achievementsofAfricanAmericans.Thejourneymovesfrom oppressiontodignity,fromthedepthsupward.
TheUSHMMtellsitsstoryintheoppositedirection.Visitorsbeginon thetopfloorwithJewishlifeinEuropebeforethewar.Asyoudescend throughthemuseum,youwitnessHitler’srisetopower,the manipulationofsocietythroughpropagandaandterror,the codificationofantisemitismintheNurembergLaws,theghettoization
ofJewishcommunities,andultimatelythemachineryofmassmurder. Adescentintothedepthsofhumancruelty,itraisesenduringquestions aboutwhetherhumanityhastrulylearnedthelessonsofhistory
Yetwhenwestepbackandconsiderthelonghistoriesofbothour peoples,thestoryismorecomplex.Historyisrarelylinear.Thereare timesofascentandtimesofdescent.Whenwerose,wetriednotto becomearrogant;whenwefell,welearnedhowtoendureandtohope. BothresilienceandhumilityarewovenintoourcollectiveDNA Together,theyformsomethinglikeadoublehelixofhopefor humanity
Experiencingthesemuseumstogether—asBlackandJewishleaders— addedapowerfullayerofmeaning.OurAfrican-Americancolleagues spokeabouthowpersonallyconnectedtheyfelttothestoriestoldinthe NMAAHC.Inturn, Jewishparticipants sharedtheirown familialand communal connectionstothe Holocaustnarrative. Listeningtoone anotherbroughtthe historyaliveinnew anddeeplymoving ways.
Inadditiontothe museumvisits,we watchedascreening ofOctober8,afilm documentingtherise ofcontemporary antisemitism particularlyon collegecampuses —andwevisited boththeLincoln Memorialandthe
Rabbi Lucas and the trip cohort at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC.
MartinLutherKing,Jr.Memorial.Wespokeaboutthelonghistoryof partnershipbetweenBlackandJewishcommunitiesinadvancingcivil rightsandstrengtheningAmericandemocracy
SowhatdoesanyofthishavetodowithPesah?
OurrabbisteachthatwhenwetellthestoryoftheExodusattheseder, wemust“beginwithdisgraceandendwithpraise”(MishnahPesachim 10:2).Ourtaskatthesederistotellastorythatmovesupward from slaverytoredemption moreliketheMuseumofAfricanAmerican HistoryandCulture.
Eventhoughbothcommunitieshavehadourmomentsofpainandloss, Pesahteachesusthatthespiritualtaskisnottogetstuckinthedifficult moments,buttorememberthemaspartofalargernarrativeof resilienceanddefiance.
Rememberingourhistoryhelpsplaceourpresentchallengesinthe appropriatecontext.Thoughwehavehaddifficulttimesoflate,we knowthatourpeoplearestrongandunbreakable.MaythisPesah strengthenourfaiththatineverygeneration,wewillfindthecourageto alwaysmovefromdisgracetowardpraise.
CAI community members taught over 40 different sessions during our Ask Me!! Skills and Interests Fair on Sunday, March 15!
RabbiAriLucasisCAI’sseniorrabbi.
JewishContinuity CantorJoelCaplan
“Hey,CantorCaplan!ThisisyourlastarticlefortheVoice,huh?Guessyou wannamakeitcount….Whatchagonnatalkabout?”
Aloftysubject,butusingdown-to-earthdetails,Ihope.Let’stalkabout JewishContinuity.
“Don’tlecturemeaboutthat.I’maCAImember!Ipaymydues!I’malready doingsomethingforJewishContinuity.IknowlotsofotherJewswhodon’t evendothatmuch!”
You’reright.GuessI’mpreachingtothechoir(haha).Synagogue membershipisimportant,sure!Butwecanalldoabitmore,right?
“(Grumble)Likewhat?”
Well,intheirbooks,NoaTishbyandSarahHurwitzbasicallysaythat ourbestdefenseagainstantisemitism andthebestwayforustolive, evenwithoutantisemitism is:DoMoreJewish.Learnmore.Read more.Domore.Joininmore.
“I’malreadyplentybusy!”
Aren’tweall?AndeventhoughI’mthecantor,concernedwiththelittle detailsofsynagogueworship,Iknowthatservicesaren’teveryone’s HappyPlace.
Butthemorewelearn,andknow,anddo,thebetteritisforusandfor theJewishPeople Soreadinourlibrary,orreadonline DoJewish sports,Jewishdance,JewishTV,Jewishpodcasts,Jewishcooking,Jewish classes.VisitIsrael!WearaJewishstar.Putupamezuzah.Givemore tzedaka.LearnmoreHebrew.LearnmoreTorah.LearnmoreYiddish. Learnmoreofourhistory.GotoJewishprotests,Jewishfilms,Jewish concerts,Jewishlectures andtakeyourfamily!Eatkosherfood.Make shivavisits.Visitthesick.Helppayforyourkidsorgrandkidstogoto Jewishsummercamp,Jewishteentravel,and/orJewishdayschool. And,yes,cometoshul!
“Easyforyoutosay.You’reretiring!”
True.Andthere’salwaysmorethat*I*cando,too.Atthesametime, NancyandIaren’tmovingaway.Thisisourcommunity.It’sbeenour honorandjoytospendourliveswithyouhereandtoraiseourchildren here.We’llbeatCAIplenty justmaybenoteverysingleday.
Ihopetokeepwritingmusicforourchoirsandtobeinvolvedwith them,underthenewcantor (Wanttosingwithus?Seeme!)Andyou mayormaynotknowthatforthelast33years,onemorningeachweek, I’vebeenteachingcantorialstudentshowtobecantors Theystudywith meattheJewishTheologicalSeminaryinNYC.Theheadofthe cantorialprogramthereisnowRabbiCantorShoshiLevinGoldberg, whogrewuphereatCAI(shewasthenShoshiRosenbaum).Whatfun tohaveherasmyonce-a-weekboss!GladthatI’llbecontinuingtoteach there.
Thetwocantorcandidateswhovisitedusrecently JoshEhrlichand BonnieZakarin werebothinmyclasses,forseveralsemesterseach. Lotsofnaches.
“Sowe’llstillbeseeingyou?”
That’stheplan atleastsometimes.You’llbegettingtoknowournew cantor,whowillbringinnewtalentsandexpertise justasyougotto knowRabbiLucas,withallhistalents,afterknowingRabbiSilverstein forsomanyyears
Seeya’round!KeepDoingMoreJewish!—CantorJoelCaplan
Some of the creative costumes from this year’s Purim celebration! See the back cover to find out who won Cantor Caplan’s costume contest!
SingingaSongtoCelebrate HallelujahMoments
SusanWerk
MystrongestchildhoodmemoryofPesahisofmymother’s announcing,intheminutesbeforethesederbegan,withthesmellof marorfillingtheair,thatwewereactuallyaweekbehindschedule!For mymother,wholovedPesah,therewasneverenoughtimeandalways moretodofortheholiday morepolishing,morecleaning,more shopping,baking,andpreparing.Forher,thestartoftheholidaywas notquiteafull“HallelujahMoment,”andyetitwasstill,initsownway, a“Hallelujah.”
Asmanyofyouknow,mycorevalueandsignatureideaisexemplified by“HallelujahMoments,”thoseexperiencesthataregiventousbyGod thatmoveustoexpressourgratitude Wheredowefindthegreatest exampleofa“HallelujahMoment”?AttheendoftheMaggidsectionof theHaggadah,thetellingportion(Iwouldsaytheheartoftheseder), whenwereflectonourhistory:thestoryofthedeparturefromEgypt andtheformationoftheIsraelitesintoapeople.
Atthatmoment,wereadintheHaggadah:
“WehavejustcompletedtheMaggid,thestorythatbeginswithslavery andendswithliberation Wehaveretolditasourownpersonalstory NowitisonlyfittingthatwethankGodbysinginganewsong.Godtook usfromslaverytofreedom,fromsorrowtojoy,frommourningto festivity,fromthickdarknesstoagreatlight,fromenslavementto redemption.‘V’nomarl’fanavshirahhadashah,Hallelujah!’‘Letussing beforeGodanewsong.Hallelujah!’”
TheHaggadah,andthereforetheseder,teachesusthatHallelujah Momentsemergewhenwefacedifficultchallengesandexperiencesof sorrow,andtheseobstaclesaretransformedintoresolutionandjoy. Anotherwordweoftenusetocharacterizesuchmomentsis“resilience.” Thesederitselfisanexampleofhowtocelebrateresilience:bytelling ourpeople’sstoryoffreedomfromenslavement,byrecognizingGod’s involvementinoursalvation,andbysinginga“new”songofgratitude. Wehonorthememoryofthepastandthen“sing”asongthatcelebrates thatredemption.
Myhopeisthatatyourseder,youwillsharetheHallelujahMoments reflectingyourownlegacyofresilience whenyourfamilymadethe transitionfromsadnesstojoy,fromadversitytosuccess,fromdespairto hope
Iwishthatyouallwillhavetheopportunitytoraiseyourvoicesinanew songofgratitudewhenyourecognizetheseHallelujahMomentsin yourlivesandfamilyhistory.
Chagkasherv’sameach!HaveaHappyPesah!
SusanWerkisCAI’sEducationalDirector
PesahK’ilu
RabbiPaulaMackDrill
Everyonelovesastory.Jewsknowthatagoodstoryisrequiredto connectustoourhistory,culture,andbeliefsystem.AtPesahtime,our storyistheExodusandthestorybookistheHaggadah.TheHaggadahis neitherprayerbooknorrevelationfromGod,andthereforewearenot commandedtoreadeverywordinthe“correct”orderattheprescribed time.Manyofusdonotknowthis,andforthisreasonwesaythatwhen wewereyoung,oursederwas“correct”or“authentic”becauseour grandfather“readeveryword.”
Thetruth,however,isthattheHaggadahisnotasiddurtozoom through.TheHaggadahismorelikethescriptofanimprovisational playinwhichpeoplearoundthetableperformimportantroles.Itis morelikeaprintedcurriculumtoremindateacheroftheimportant pointstobecoveredbeforetheyactuallyengageinthefineartof teachingthroughdiscussion,experience,andengagingactivity.
ThemajorconcernofPesahnightisnotactuallythestoryitselfbut ratherthetellingofthestory.Theseder,accordingtotheTalmud(TB Pesahim109a),isintendedtokeepthechildrenawakeandengaged.We dipfoods,andthechildrenask,“Whydoyoudipvegetables?”andwe answer,“We’lltellyoulater.”Wecreatesuspense.Weengagethem
intheexperience.Wehopethatthequestionsleftunansweredwill evokemorequestions
RabbiDavidHartmantaught,“Don’tbeimprisonedbythetext.People shouldinterpret.Thetextisonlyaminimum.Talk.Discuss.Youarefree. Don’tlettheprintedwordparalyzetheimagination.”
ExactlyhowareweintendedtoconductthesederonPesahnight?The Haggadahtellsus:Ineverygeneration,allpeopleareobligatedtosee themselvesasiftheythemselveshadbeenredeemedfromEgypt.“As if”inHebrewis“k’ilu, ”apowerfulphrasethattellsusthatasJews,our narrativeISwhoweare.
Weareapeoplewhowereenslaved,andsoweknowsomethingabout caringforthevulnerableoftheworld.WeareapeoplechosenbyGodto beinacovenantexplainedthroughaTorah,andsoweknowsomething aboutresponsibilitytodogood.Weareapeopleledthroughthedesert byaGodvisibletousasapillaroffireoracloud,andsoweknow somethingaboutGod’sprotection.
Andhowdoweknowthesestoriesandsoareenabledtolearntheir lessons?Weknowthembecausewelistentoournarrativesk’ilu,asif wewerethere.Wemustnothearthestoriesofslavery,redemption, revelation,andprotectionwithashrugoftheshoulder.Ifweoptoutof ourstory,thenourstoryholdsnomeaning.Ifweliveourstoriesk’ilu,as ifwewerethere,thentheywillcontinuetoinformourlivestodaytobe peoplewhofeelresponsibletocareforthevulnerablebecauseofour uniquerelationshipwithGod.
ThisPesah,let’sbringoursedertolifesothatthechildreninallofus(as wellastheactualchildren)becomeinvolvedinourstory.Everyoneloves agoodstory,andourstoryisthegreatestofalltime.
HagPesahsameah!
RabbiPaulaMackDrillisCAI’srabbi-in-residence
LearningisaLifelongStance
GeulaZamist
“Whoiswise?Onewholearnsfromeveryperson.”
PirkeiAvot4:1
ThistimelessteachingsitsattheheartofeverythingwedoatAgudath IsraelLernerEarlyChildhoodCenter.Forus,learningisn’tsomething thathappensonlyinchildhood itisalifelongstance,awayofmoving throughtheworldwithcuriosity,humility,andopenness.
InourReggioEmilia-inspiredprogram,teachersarenotsimply instructors.Theyarefellowlearners askingquestionsalongsidethe children,wonderingaloud,andreflectingonwhattheydiscovereach day.Thispastyear,oureducatorshaveembracedthatrole wholeheartedly,andtheircommitmenttogrowthhastakenmany forms.
TwoofourteachershadtheopportunitytoattendtheParadigmProject Conference,joininghundredsofJewishearlychildhoodeducatorsfrom acrossthecountrytolearnfromsomeofthefinestmindsinthefield. Manyofourstaffalsoparticipatedinsitevisitstootherschools observing,exchangingideas,andbringingfreshthinkingbacktoour classrooms.
Formyownpart,IhadtheprivilegeofparticipatingintheShomer CollectiveEducatorFellowship anine-month,cohort-basedonline learningexperiencethatbroughttogetherJewisheducatorsfroma widerangeofbackgroundsandsettings.TheShomerCollectivedraws onJewishwisdomtotransformthewayweapproachconversations aboutdeathanddying.Togetherwithcolleaguesacrossthecountry, andguidedbyexpertsinthefield,weexploredJewishtexts,traditions, andteachingsaboutlife,death,mourning,andwhatitmeanstogrieve withintention.
Oneofthemostmeaningfuloutcomesofthefellowshipistheresource eachparticipantdevelopedfortheircommunity.Minefocuseson supportingfamilieswithyoungchildrenthroughloss includinga curatedguidetothoughtfullywrittenchildren’sbooksaboutdeathand dying,aswellaspracticalguidelinesforfamilieswhowishtocreate theirowndigitalmemorybookstohelpchildrenprocessgrief.
Asanearlychildhoodcenter,weareoftenamongthefirsttobethere forfamiliesduringsomeoftheirmostdifficultmoments TheShomer Fellowshiphasdeepenedmyabilitytodothat offeringparentsnew language,newtools,andalittlemorecouragetohavetheseimportant conversationswiththeirchildren.
Learning,inallitsforms,makesusbetter—forthechildreninourcare andforthefamilieswhotrustuswiththem.
GeulaZamististhedirectorofCAI’sLernerEarlyChildhoodCenter.
LernerEarlyChildhoodCenterchildrenduringthisyear’sGrandfriends programseder,learningabouttheTenPlagues,andlearningtomake matzah!
TheWellness/ResilienceVersion oftheFourQuestions
AndreaMalmud
WeknowthatameaningfulpartofthesederisaskingtheMah Nishtanah?TheFourQuestions.Iwouldliketoofferadifferentversion oftheFourQuestions,relatingtowellnessandmentalhealth
IamreferringtotheconceptofPIES,whichstandsforthePhysical, Intellectual,Emotional,andSocial/Spiritualspheresofourbodies, minds,andhearts.
Sopleasethinkaboutthefollowingquestions,withtheideaofhavinga healthfulyomtov.
Question1:HowarewefeelingPhysically,andwhyisthisimportant?
Ourbrainsandourbodiesshareadeepconnection.Let’simaginewhat ourbodymighthaveexperiencedwhilebuildingtheancientpyramids or,morerecently,sittinginNewJerseytraffic?Takeamomenttonotice. Arewegraspingthesteeringwheel,contortingourfaces,orarewe frightenedwhensomeonehonksatus?Ourbodyistellingusthatallis notright,andwecouldexperienceheadachesorevendigestiveissues. Soletus,throughouttheday,noticehowourbodyfeelssothatwecan rethinkthesituationanduseself-calmingtechniques.Theleast complicatedoneistakingdeepbreaths.
Question2:HowarewefeelingIntellectually,andwhyisthis important?
Jewstendtovalueeducationabovealmosteverything.Tryingoutanew matzahballrecipe,takingclasses,studyingTorah,reading,andknitting arejustafewwaystoenrichourbrainssothatwemayfeelsmartand purposefulandempowered.Whodoesn’tneedapurposeinlife?So maybewetookafewdetoursafterleavingEgypt;weeventually managedtofigureouttheway.
Question3:HowarewefeelingEmotionally,andwhyisthat important?
Thisisaprettybigdealandisconnectedtoalltheothers.Itisnosecret thatthesearetoughtimes,definedinpartbywar,intolerance,financial worries,andtheday-to-daystressesofgettingthroughtheday.Wemay
loseourselvesinfearofunpredictability,aplummetingself-image,the panicofself-doubt Onebasicidea:theWellnessToolBox,aboxthat containssuchitemsasalistofcomfortingandrationalthought replacements,apersonaljournal,names,phonenumbers,photos, mindfulnesstechniques,sayings,mantras,glimmers whateverhelps usdecompressfromlife’schallenges,batheourbrainsindopamine, andsleepthroughthenight.
4.HowarewefeelingSociallyandSpiritually,andwhyisthis important?
Dowehaveadequate ortoomuch socialstimulation?(Introverts deserveavoiceheretoo,eveniftheymaybereluctanttospeakup.)The worldhasbecomeloud.Andyetstudiesreportthata“plague”of lonelinessisrunningrampantthroughsocietysincethepandemic.Isit comfytoworkfromhome?Sure.Butwhathashappenedtosharingour weekendexploitswithourworkbuddies,orgoingouttolunchtobond bykibbitzingwithpeoplewhounderstandus?Wemustgivethoughtto howtoreplacethat.Nowlet’stalkSpirituality.Whatdoesthatmean?
Weareblessedtohavea beautifulsanctuarywherewe cantogotofigurethatout;a wealthofclassestoguideus alongourpaths;andclergy, staff,andmanycongregants whoareallonajourneyof askingquestions and helpingusfindtheanswers
Wishingyouallawarm, happyPesah.
AndreaMalmud,LCSW,CCBT, certifiedgriefprofessional, isCAI’sJFSZellerFamily SocialWorker
•MemberofCongregation AgudathIsrael
FromBondageintoFreedom
NurseKarenFrank
Frombondageintofreedomisthestoryofthisseason.
Atourtable,asatsomanyothers,thesederconversationturnsnaturally towardourownliberationstories.Wespeaknotonlyofwhathappened longago,butofwhatishappeningnow.Weaskourselves:fromwhatdo wefeelconstrained?Wheredoeslifefeelnarrow,tight,restricted?
TheHebrewwordforEgyptisMitzrayim Itmeans“thenarrowplace”It isnotonlyalandinastory Itisanyplaceinourliveswherewefeelstuck Anysituationinwhichwecannotseeawayforward Anyfearthatcloses inaroundusandmakesourworldfeeltighterthanittrulyis.
Itisnotdifficulttoseewhattroublesus.Wefindourworrieseasily—for ourfamilies,forourhealth,forthefutureofourcommunities,forthe stateofourcountry,forthedespoilingofourenvironment.The problemsfeelvast Overwhelming Largerthananythingoneperson couldpossiblysolve
Sowearetemptedtoask:whatdifferencecanIreallymake?
Sometimestheanswerfeelslike“nothing.”Wefeelpowerlessintheface offorcesthatseembeyondourreach.Andyetourtraditiongentlybut firmlypushesbackagainstthatresignation.Wearenotaskedtofix everything.Weareaskedtostayawake.Tostayaware.Toremain mindfulandopentothefullexperienceoflivinginthiscomplicatedand beautifulworld.
Distractioncanfeellikerelief,butitisnotliberation.Lookingawaydoes notwidenthenarrowplace.Instead,weareinvitedtoaskadifferent question:whatisminetodo?Whatsmallactmightmovethisproblem along,evenalittle?
Forme,theanswerstakeverysimpleforms.ThesearethepracticesI enjoy.ThesearemyownsmallpathwaysoutofMitzrayim.
Volunteeringatthelocalfoodpantry Plantingmilkweedinthegarden somonarchbutterflieswillhaveaplacetolandandfeed Writingemails tomysenatorstomakemyvoiceheard Collectingwarmcoatsforthose whodonothaveshelter.Choosingtoavoidpesticidesandherbicidesso
thatthesoil,thebirds,andtheinsectsmaythrive.
Noneoftheseactionssolveawholeproblem.Buteachoneopens something.Eachonewidensthenarrownessjustabit.Andthereisa quietgratificationintheworkitself.Wemayseeonefamilyhelped. Onegardenalivewithbirdsandbutterflies.Onepolicyshifted.Wefind ourselvesstrengthenedbythecommunityofpeoplewhosharethese values,whoarealsotrying,intheirownways,tobringmoregoodness intotheworld
Oursagesremindus:
“Wearenotobligatedtocompletethework,butneitherarewefreeto abandonit.”
Perhapsliberationisnotasingledramaticmoment.Perhapsitis discoveredinthesteadychoosingofwhatisourstodo.Inthe willingnesstoact,evenwhentheoutcomeissmalloruncertain.Inthe simplefaiththatoureffortsmatter.
Thesearemyformsofliberation.
Whatareyours?
Inthisseasonoffreedom,mayeachofusfindthepracticesthathelpus stepoutofourownnarrowplacesandwalktogethertowardawider andmorepeacefulworld.
KarenFrankisCAI’scongregationnurse. EXECUTOR SUPPORT SOLUTIONS
• Cancel accounts and subscriptions
• Organize estate documents
• Track expenses and reimbursements
• Oversee property maintenance
Ronni Frey (973) 809-9893 • ronnimarla@gmail.com executorsupportsolutions.com
• Prepare summaries for professionals (Attorneys/CPAs)
• MUCH MORE
theCovenant
MiriamLeismanRubin
ThebookofExodustellsthestoryoftheHebrewsleavingEgyptinorder toworshipGodand,indoingso,becomingapeopleboundbycovenant. Ourseders,however,largelyleaveoutthevoiceofMosesandafamous refraincentraltoourstory—therepeateddemanddeliveredto Pharaoh: ימע חלש or ימע־תא חלש “LetMypeoplego.”
Althoughweoftenmisrememberthisphraseasbeingrepeatedbefore eachofthe10plagues,MosesstopsspeakingthesewordstoPharaoh aftertheseventhplague.Thefinaliterationofthedemandappears insteadinanunexpectedplace:inthemouthsofPharaoh’sown courtiers.Theyurgehim, םישנאה־תא חלש —“Lettheanashimgo.”
Andhereiswheretranslationcanleadusastray.
Anashim,thepluralofish,isoftentranslatedas“men.”Traditional translationsthereforerendertheverseas“Letthemengo.”Butthisisan oversimplification.Hebrewregularlyusesmasculinepluralformsto describemixed-gendergroups.Anashimcanmean“men,”butitcanalso mean“people,”acollectivethatincludesbothmenandwomen,or “persons,”aphasethatemphasizesalackofgroupcohesion. Whydoesthismatter?
BecausewhenPharaoh’scourtierssay, םישנאה־תא חלש,theyare,in effect,echoingMosesandAaron:“Letthepeoplego.”Andyettheydoso withoutfullyembracingtheunityofthatpeople.Theirlanguagehovers betweeninclusionandlimitation,reflectingawillingnesstocomplybut anincompleteunderstandingofthedemand Pharaoh’sresponsemakesthedistinctionexplicit.Heasks:Whoexactly willgo?WhenMosesanswers“everyone”—youngandold,sonsand daughters,andeventhelivestock—Pharaohrecoils.Hecounters: םירבגה אנ־וכל “You,thegevarim,go.”Herethelanguageisprecise. Gevarimmeansmen,andonlymen.
Pharaohdrawsaline.Worship,inhisworldview,isthedomainofmen alone.
SomecommentatorssuggestthatMoses’sinsistenceonbringing everyone women,children,andanimals wasastrategicmove, designedtoforcePharaohintorefusal Butthisreadingunderestimates thetheologicalstakesofthenarrative Pharaohdoesnotneedtobe maneuveredintosayingno;Godisalreadyatworkhardeninghisheart. ThequestionisnothowtoprovokePharaoh’sresistance,butwhatthat resistancereveals afundamentaldifferenceintheunderstandingof worshipitself
ForPharaoh,worshipcanbepartial.Itcanbelimited,controlled, restrictedtoasubsetofthepopulation.ForGod,worshipisinherently communalandirreduciblyinclusive.Womenarepartof םישנאה,notan afterthought;theyarenonnegotiable.
God’sinclusivityappearsagain,twice,beforetheIsraelitesleaveEgypt. First,intheinstructionstoborrowsilverandgoldfromtheirneighbors, theTorahmakesinclusionunmistakable:
“Eachmanfromhis(male) neighbor,andeachwomanfromher(female)neighbor.”Theparallel structureinsistsonvisibility;itresistsanytranslationthatwould collapsewomenintothebackground.
Second,inthedeathofthefirstborn:TheHebrewof רוכב־לכ might allowambiguity,sincethephrasecanbereadasmasculineormixed. Indeed,manyofourtranslationsinserttheword“male”toforcea particularreading.ButamidrashinShemotRabbahremovesalldoubt: Everyfirstborndies—sonsanddaughtersalike,whetherfirstbornto thefatherorthemother.
AswegatheratoursederstorecalltheExodus,then,itisimportantthat werecallthatthisisnotonlyastoryaboutliberationfromslavery.Itisa storyaboutwhocountsintheactofworshipandintheformationofa covenantalpeople.Pharaohimaginesaworldinwhichonlysomeare necessary.OurGodinsistsonaworldinwhicheveryoneis.
MiriamLeismanRubinisCAI’srabbinicintern.
Ekaterina Stankova and Max Bamberger with Elijah
Heather and Zachary Bier with Charlie and Sophie
Sharon Cytrynbaum with Shayne and Noah
Erica Rabner and David Gorvy with Gavin and New Baby Girl
Michelle Moallem and Joshua Greenfield with Yonatan and Avital
Lauren and Ari Grinspan with Oliver, Charlie, and Ellie
Jocelyn and Gregory Klar with Juliana, Sydney, and Levi
Susan Brown Rubin and Robert Rubin
Thank you for helping to spread the word about our special community at Congregation Agudath Israel and all that we have to offer. Being invested in Jewish community is more important now than ever and we thank you for your commitment Keep telling your friends, family, and neighbors about your positive and meaningful experiences here YOU are our MOST successful advertising!
The winners of the Purim costume contest! Lerner Religious School fourth-graders and their teachers dressed as the PJ Library catalogue and donated their prize money to PJ Library! Kolhakavod!
Joinusforourupcomingevents! Findclasses,events,servicetimes,andregistrationatagudath.org/calendar.
Saturday, April 4, Noon
Sunday, April 12, 11:00 am
Monday, April 13, 7:30 pm
Tuesday, April 21, 7:00 pm
Thursday, April 30, 7:45 pm
Tuesday, May 5, 7:45 pm
Friday, May 8, 6:30 pm
Thursday, May 28, 8:00 pm
Saturday-Sunday, June 13-14
3rd Annual Passover Potent Potables
Yom HaShoah Reading of the Names Yom HaShoah Commemoration
JFedGMW Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha-atzma’ut Event
Featuring Koolulam FiddlerontheMoon:JudaisminSpace Film Screening
Krav Maga Class for Adults
Friday Night Lights Shabbat Service and Dinner for Grade School Families
Lecture with Professor Richard Elliott
Friedman
Celebrate Cantor Caplan
“TheVoice”isedited byAbbyMethKanter.
CongregationAgudathIsrael•20AcademyRoad•Caldwell,NJ07006•Agudath.org