April 2009: Friends and Strangers
Happy Spring, everyone! Pesach
(Passover) is coming, and truly, there is
no other holiday that encapsulates
who we are as Jews and what we
stand for more than this one. Not
surprisingly, it is the most beloved and
celebrated of Jewish holidays. Why is
this so? Well, for one thing, there’s all
that delicious food! In addition,
Passover is the re-enactment of our
liberation from slavery. Its central
message is the necessity of freedom. Specifically, the
Passover story reminds us that we were slaves and
strangers in a foreign land. Therefore, the Torah regales us
repeatedly with this message – no less than 33 times, in
fact – to remember to be kind to the strangers in our
midst, for we ourselves were strangers in Egypt (as well as
the dozens of other countries we have inhabited in the
intervening centuries).
I cannot think of a more noble declaration to define us, nor a better ideal to guide us – especially in these troubled economic times in our country and in our world. I am proud and pleased that so many of our children give tzedakah each Sunday morning, and that so many of our bnei mitzvah students take on projects that will help strangers near and far who they will likely never meet. In this spirit, I hope you will enjoy celebrating Passover this year with friends and family, learn something new about the holiday or add something different and creative to your Passover seder, and observe this meaningful holiday with a renewed sense of concern and responsibility for the strangers – and friends – in our midst, both near and far, who are in need of aid and compassion.
On another note, last month, the CKS Interfaith Life Group met again as part of this year’s adult education programming. This group has now taken on a life of its own, with plans to continue to meet and learn and raise the consciousness of our community about the significance of this topic to all of us. I want to remind each of you again that this is a community issue and conversation. CKS is comprised of roughly 40% interfaith families of one stripe or another. These families are decidedly not strangers in our midst. They are our fellow members, our partners, husbands, wives, and even sometimes our children…. They are us! So the next time we meet, I urge you to come and join the conversation. At the same time, meet new people and make new friends.
Finally, one of the suggestions I received from the Interfaith Life Group was to start a “Glossary of Jewish Terms”, that is, words or phrases in Hebrew or Yiddish that are commonly used, but sometimes not understood – by Jews and non-Jews alike. This month, I will begin with some of the words and expressions I used in this newsletter article. As the glossary grows, it will be compiled and posted on our website.
Pesach – the Hebrew word for Passover, the holiday commemorating our exodus from Egypt.
Seder – literally “order”, the Passover seder is the telling of the Passover story, usually done around the dinner table and including symbolic foods and a festive meal.
Tzedakah – often translated as “charity”, the Hebrew word is more closely related to “righteousness”. In Jewish tradition, then, tzedakah is not just randomly giving money to the needy; rather, it is an obligation imposed on all – even the poor – to provide support and social services for the community as a whole.
Stay tuned for more.
A zissen Pesach (a sweet Passover) everyone!
Rabbi Susan
I cannot think of a more noble declaration to define us, nor a better ideal to guide us – especially in these troubled economic times in our country and in our world. I am proud and pleased that so many of our children give tzedakah each Sunday morning, and that so many of our bnei mitzvah students take on projects that will help strangers near and far who they will likely never meet. In this spirit, I hope you will enjoy celebrating Passover this year with friends and family, learn something new about the holiday or add something different and creative to your Passover seder, and observe this meaningful holiday with a renewed sense of concern and responsibility for the strangers – and friends – in our midst, both near and far, who are in need of aid and compassion.
On another note, last month, the CKS Interfaith Life Group met again as part of this year’s adult education programming. This group has now taken on a life of its own, with plans to continue to meet and learn and raise the consciousness of our community about the significance of this topic to all of us. I want to remind each of you again that this is a community issue and conversation. CKS is comprised of roughly 40% interfaith families of one stripe or another. These families are decidedly not strangers in our midst. They are our fellow members, our partners, husbands, wives, and even sometimes our children…. They are us! So the next time we meet, I urge you to come and join the conversation. At the same time, meet new people and make new friends.
Finally, one of the suggestions I received from the Interfaith Life Group was to start a “Glossary of Jewish Terms”, that is, words or phrases in Hebrew or Yiddish that are commonly used, but sometimes not understood – by Jews and non-Jews alike. This month, I will begin with some of the words and expressions I used in this newsletter article. As the glossary grows, it will be compiled and posted on our website.
Pesach – the Hebrew word for Passover, the holiday commemorating our exodus from Egypt.
Seder – literally “order”, the Passover seder is the telling of the Passover story, usually done around the dinner table and including symbolic foods and a festive meal.
Tzedakah – often translated as “charity”, the Hebrew word is more closely related to “righteousness”. In Jewish tradition, then, tzedakah is not just randomly giving money to the needy; rather, it is an obligation imposed on all – even the poor – to provide support and social services for the community as a whole.
Stay tuned for more.
A zissen Pesach (a sweet Passover) everyone!
Rabbi Susan
