Make a Phone Call!

A little boy once returned home from Hebrew school and his father asked, “What did you learn today?”

He answered, “The Rabbi told us how Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt.”

“How?”

The boy said, “Moses was a big strong man and he beat Pharaoh up. Then, while he was down, he got all the people together and ran towards the sea. When he got there, he has the Corps of Engineers build a huge pontoon bridge. Once they got to the other side, they blew up the bridge while the Egyptians were trying to cross.”

The father was shocked. “Is that what the Rabbi taught you?”

The boy replied, “No. But you’d never believe the story he DID tell us!”

***

In the Passover Haggada we read of the four sons who sit around the Passover table.

First we meet the “good” son, who willingly participates in the festivities feeling proud of his heritage.

Next we have the “wicked” son, who, were it up to him, would never have participated in this cracker/horseradish ancient torture. Yet alas, his mom threatened to cancel all his credit cards if he did not come to grandma’s place for the “once-a-year-feel-Jewish party.”

Then arrives the simple son, who, knowing that he’s Jewish, forced himself to call his local synagogue and pay to be part of the community seder. When he shows up, all he can mutter is, “What in the world is going on here?”

Last, we have our fourth character, the one who “doesn’t know what to ask,” He feels totally lost, having just been pulled out of some ashram into a packed house with the strangest meal of lettuce and teeth-breaking crackers, that he stands with his mouth wide open, speechless.

However as different they all are, at the end of the day they all are sitting around the table. The Rebbe introduced a Fifth Child. This is the one who doesn’t come to the Passover celebration, who was simply never taught about his heritage. The Rebbe calls upon each and every one of us to bring this son to the table.

Dear friend, I’m sure you’re acquainted with a Jew who doesn’t plan to participate in this year’s Seder. Why not pick up your phone and invite him to join your Passover experience?

Tell him the true story of Passover. It really is an awesome tale.