The three questions…

Pesach is a holiday of questions and answers. It’s also a holiday of freedom. Let’s ask some freedom questions.
Q: On Pesach everyone recites the Kiddush, and the whole year we rely on the Kiddush of someone else. Why the difference?

A: Kiddush means elevation, and on Pesach we are reminded that when it comes to elevation – freedom of one’s little Egypt, we can’t rely on someone else. Do it yourself!

Q: On Pesach we drink four cups of wine. I know there are many explanations; tell me an explanation with the same theme as the previous answer?

A: Sure! The Shala (Shnei luchut habrit) says that the 4 cups symbolize the four Matriarchs. Look at this:

On cup 1 we recite the Kiddush, in which we read “Who has chosen us from among all nations”, resembles Sarah who together with her husband Abraham brought many people closer to G-d. Abraham and Sarah stood up against the pagan society and changed the world, one person at a time!

Cup 2 comes after reading of Jacobs’s hardships and troubles under his father-in-law Lavan. So this cup resembles Rebecca’s defiance and courage, that although she grew up in such an immoral environment, she nevertheless defied all odds and became the great woman who she was. Once again: yes you can!

Cup 3, on which we say the grace after meals, corresponds to Joseph, son of Rachel, who fed the whole world during the drought. Joseph defied all odds (brothers hatred and 12 years of slavery) to become the treasurer of the world!

With cup 4 we conclude the Hallel, the prayer of thanks and praise to G-d, reminding us of the attribute of appreciation which we are taught by Lea, who was first to thank G-d by naming her fourth son Judah (thankfulness). Look at the blessings that you have, and say thank you!

Q: I can understand how we, living in the free world can celebrate this holiday of freedom, but how did our grandparents celebrate it throughout our long history of oppression, didn’t they see the irony of it?

A: Freedom is not so much about location; it’s about a mindset. Just look around and see people who physically live in a free world, but their attitude is that of a prisoner: “Me? I can never do that!” “It’s all because of my nose that I’ll never make it anywhere!” “I want to. But I can’t”. These are enslaved people, not by dictators and tyrants, but by themselves.

The great miracle of the exodus was that G-d introduced the mindset of freedom. “Yes! You can get out of here!” “Yes! You can defy the odds!” And that mindset was present at the Seder’s celebrated in the gulags, in Auschwitz, in Spain and in Babel.

Your Kiddush cup, your grandmother Rebecca, and your grandfather’s Seder in Bergen Belsen, all scream to you:

Dear… Freedom is a choice! This holiday, choose freedom! YES YOU CAN!

Please friends let’s do all we can to have This year in Jerusalem!