We tend to forget negative moments in life, and if we cant entirely push the memory away we avoid mentioning it. Not so in the case of Jewish national history. Jews make mention of the slavery in Egypt and the eventual Exodus Egypt many times a day despite the event taking place 3326 years ago (from 2104) and even Judaism’s most sacred moments refer to the slavery and the liberation from Egypt.
The Jewish people came into being at the Exodus. So important is this event in Biblical consciousness that many non Jewish sources make reference to it. Thomas Jefferson used it as his image when designing a Great Seal for the United States. When black Americans sang of freedom they used Moses’ words, “Let my people go.” Even Nelson Mandela referred to it when he called his autobiography The Long Walk to Freedom.
Much of Jewish ethics is based on our experiences as slaves. We who were abused, are ever attentive to the cries of the oppressed and needy. This is what is means to be a Jew.
A former student shared an event that happened to her as a first year university student. One night she was woken at 3am by the cries of a female student. After waiting a few moments the cries didn’t stop, so she dragged herself out of bed to investigate. She saw a student crouched by her own bedroom door. It transpired that this sobbing maiden suffered from sleeping walking and she had thought that someone was knocking on her door. When the door slammed behind her she woke from her sleep and discovered she was locked out. My former student looked after her till morning when she could get help with a new key for her door. The anecdote of the black American placing a Kippa/Skull Cap on his head because “my momma told me that a Jew will always stop to help,” reminds us that we have taken the Biblical story and made it relevant for the 21st Century.
All Jews need to ask themselves what they will be taking with them from Passover. Its easy to moan about the weight gained or the pounds spent on the Passover food. I would like to suggest that one major theme to consider is sensitivity to those in need. To be ever attentive to the cries of those in need. There are so many people who are broken and needy let us commit ourselves to the spirit of Passover and listen to each other and help those in require it.
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