Which makes sense because, while the older generation gravitated towards “searching for truth”, the younger generation “search for relevance and meaning.” And, as it happens. both are right.
D7G0TA family celebrating the Seder (Passover night service)Alamy Stock Photo
There’s an age-old delicate balance in practical Jewish thought between the reasons behind a mitzvah and its details. As the Rambam and Sefer Hachinuch write on several occasions, mitzvot are not dry acts – they shape who we are, our sensitivities, characters and selves.
Yet every mitzvah also has details – laws and applications. Take the meaning and theme out of the mitzvah, it is soul-less. Take the details out of the mitzvah, and it is definition-less; it ceases becoming the mitzvah it was set up to be.
As we see across our partner schools at Seed, it’s far easier to teach about themes and meaning than the details. But the details of practice are hugely significant.
This delicate theme-detail balance is accentuated in the case of a mitzvah that the Torah did not define, but the rabbis recommended a set act or text to facilitate it. For example, the Torah told us to “love your neighbour as yourself”. What does that entail? The Torah does not give us specific actions – any kindness works.
But the rabbis wanted to make sure we fulfilled this mitzvah and therefore instituted some specific actions to do: visit the sick, bury the dead, for example. If a person visits the sick but inside detests the patient have they ticked the ritual box? Yes. But they’ve lost the meaning.
Prayer is a classic example. The Torah definition of prayer has no set text – turn to God and ask/speak to Him! The rabbis were later concerned that in our loss of proper expression and devotion, the mitzvah of prayer would fall by the wayside. They thus effectively put together the Siddur as a set text for one element of prayer (of course we can turn to God at any time and ask Him for our needs separately).
Yet in our shuls you may see some people who have turned prayer into a ritual – recite the words and forget the meaning. As a community rabbi I saw some of the younger generation shushed in shul when they also didn’t understand the prayer service; for them, lack of relevance translated into lack of reverence.
On Seder night too, the Torah gave us a mitzvah – a beautiful opportunity – “to relate the story of the Exodus”. This means generations sitting together and exploring the narrative, telling what happened to our ancestors and connecting to the freedom as Hashem took us out of Egypt with miracles.
It’s the themes of faith, nationhood, gratitude and mission. And the rabbis enshrined this in fifteen Seder night steps and the Haggadah text – albeit currently one that not all of us understand. So how do we navigate that balance?
To ditch the Haggadah altogether is to ignore key text and the rabbis’ Seder night wisdom and guidance. Yet to recite the Haggadah without knowing what it says is to forgo the educational opportunity that is Seder night! Especially since some of the stages in Seder night are aimed at piquing children’s interest – some of the steps or the encouragement of questions.
Here are some ideas to foster a balance:
* Focus more time on the central parts of the Haggadah: the ten plagues, the “Pesach, matzah and maror”. Explain it and add, make it come to life, whether through stories, ideas, visuals. And do your preparation beforehand!
Know what you will say, adding stories and some ideas. Children will know when you have invested something in your Seder Night. For example, Rabbi Malcolm Herman, Seed ceo, offers a fantastic annual “how to make Seder night relevant” session on YouTube.
Some of the other parts can be sped through or recited in English (or skipped if necessary).
* Be educationally creative in engaging the younger members – they will remember it for years. in the past I’ve read out a fake Seder Night diary, a fake newspaper, a plague-facts pairs game, created a fake call centre whereby different characters in the Exodus explain their situation and feelings.
*Split: while parts of the Haggadah are being recited, do something separate and educationally engaging for some of the younger members of the family. They don’t have to be at the table throughout. Also younger children don’t have to go hungry – give them enough food before Seder night or throughout to keep them ticking along.
Rabbi Fine is education director of Seed
THE AFIKOMAN LOCK BOX
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At Seed we always look to create Seder resources to help young families. This year we are offering the Afikoman Lock Box: place the Afikoman in the box and lock it with the provided combination lock. The kids then get busy with the fun and educational challenges – each one provides a number for the lock! For ages 7-12. Order yours at www.afikomanbox.com
