More Seder History

One of the most important and transformative things the Jewish Sages did after the destruction of the Second Temple, was to transfer and transform Temple ideas to the home setting. Many symbols were created to not only keep the "memories" of Temple ritual alive, but to allow for the continuing development of Rabbinic Judaism as well. For example, on Shabbat, the table of the home becomes the new "altar', the white tablecloth represents the Priest's garments, the candles lit to usher in the Shabbat recalls the 7 branched menorah lit every evening outside the Holy of Holies in the Temple. The wine and the bread become substitutes for the blood and the meat of the sacrifices themselves, while the head of the household reciting the prayers is the "priest," and on the Shabbat itself, people would gather to hear the words of the Torah and study the Creator's wisdom in the synagogue instead of the Temple.

Between the years 200 BCE to 200 CE, the teachings of the Jewish Sages were gathered, organized and edited into a collection called the Mishnah, which in essence is Rabbinic Scripture. The Torah commands many things, but rarely explains how to do them, especially without a Temple, Sacrifices and Priesthood. The Mishnah presents the methods to celebrate the Festivals and Shabbat, the yearly cycle for reading the Torah, the Standardization of Jewish Prayers and other instructions, laws and interpretations. Even though this corpus was closed in 200 CE, the process of reinterpretation continued in Jewish history and still continues today in other forms. The Passover Seder grew out of this process.

In Jewish tradition, God should be worshipped not only through prayer, but also through study and learning. The Passover seder is set up as a lesson in which are mingled Jewish history, literature, rituals, customs, stories and songs. The small book we use as guide for the seder is called a Haggadah, which means, "The Telling", is based upon Exodus 13:8 which says, ". . . and you shall tell your son."

Printed Haggadah

All printed Haggadahs have 15 words which trace the sequence of the seder service, written in rhyme as a mnemonic. The seder plate has mnemonic symbols, a Zero'a (shankbone), a Beitzah (hard boiled roasted egg), Maror (bitter herbs, usually grated horseradish), Haroset (chopped walnuts,apples, honey and wine, recipes vary) and Karpas (greenherb, usually parsley). Also on the table is Matzah, unleavened bread which is a remembrance of the Israelites having to leave Egypt in a hurry, before the bread had no time to rise.

Seder Plate

The shankbone recalls the actual "Paschal Lamb" sacrifice, the egg can represent the roundness of life, no beginning and no end, roasted again can refer to the ancient Temple sacrifices, The bitter herb remembers the bitterness of servitude. The Haroset (chopped apples, nuts honey and wine) brings to mind the mudbricks used to build the storage cities of Pitom and Ramases. (The Israelites did not build the Pyramids, they were already thousands of years old when the Israelites were there.) The Karpas, green vegetable, dipped in salt water is a remembrance of the hyssop dipped in the blood of the Pesach over the doorways and gates as a protective device, and also the renewal of life in the spring when people dipped veggies in saltwater or other liquid when eating. 

In ancient times, slaves and laborers ate hurriedly, squatting on the ground. On Passover, it is the custom to recline and eat on the left side which was the sign that the individual was a free person. There are blessings and ritual washing of the hands. Next, the youngest child or children start the seder by asking 4 questions which are answered as the seder moves along. This style of study is taken from Greek philosophy, where one student asks the Master a question and the rest of the session is devoted to answering that question. 

Today, those of you who've never been to a seder or who are interested in doing one can find many sources online and in books. There are a lot more beautiful parts of the seder I'm leaving out, but I hope this explanation has been informative and peaked some interest. By the way, here is an interesting Passover fact. In the Torah, the Exodus revolves around the Giant Personality and actions of Moses. In the Haggadah, Moses is only mentioned once in passing. Why? The answer will be in my next installment of seder history.

Be Blessed, Choose Life & Do TOV!

Rabbi Jeffrey Leynor

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Some Seder History

Passover begins at sunset on Friday, April 3rd this year. There is probably no specific date for the creation of the Passover Seder, but as with many laws, customs, traditions and beliefs, it accrued over time.

The Hebrew word “seder” means “order” -- a number of steps for the ritual meal. Today, there are a number of "seders." Shavuot, the next Biblical Festival which comes 50 days after the first day of Passover, also has a seder. Tu B'Shevat, the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat, which is called the holiday of the trees. It celebrates fruits and other agricultural products of the Land of Israel. It's seder was developed and practiced by the Kabbalists of Safed.

In the Torah, also known as the Five Books of Moses, the festival Passover Festival is called "Pesach", which is the Hebrew name of the sacrifice.

The Paschal Lamb (a rare occasion when meat was eaten by the common person because meat was expensive) was eaten at that time only by those who were in a state of ritual and spiritual purity. Along with the "Pesach" there was the Festival of Unleavened Bread which was 7 days long. Nothing with "leaven" was ever allowed on the Altar.

In the year 70 of our era, Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed by the Romans. Exodus 12 states Passover should be celebrated with the Pesach lamb being eaten at midnight along with bitter herbs and matzah, while we are standing up with our bags packed and our walking sticks in hand -- and it should be eaten quickly. So? How do we celebrate this very important festival without a Temple, without a Pesach, without a functioning Priesthood?

SOURCE

After the Great Revolt against Rome (66-73 CE), those Jewish Sages and teachers who were left eventually came together at Yavneh and under the leadership of (Rabbi) Yochanan Ben Zakkai, began the arduous task of creating and collecting the rituals, prayers and customs that are the basis for the practices of Rabbinic Judaism. They were extremely insightful people. They enabled Judaism to grow and change according to the historical circumstances and reinterpreted the Torah's instructions, creating a standard of practice. They transferred the emphasis of Temple Ritual to the home, family and community and established mnemonic devises, a way of remembering and recalling ancient Temple Rituals in symbolic ways and metaphors. A perfect example is The Seder Plate. It will be coming to a table near you in my next blog.

Be Blessed, Choose Life & Do TOV!

Rabbi Jeffrey Leynor

PS – If you found this information useful:

(1) Go to the TOV Center Facebook Page and “Like It” -- click here  

(2) Share this blog with others on your Facebook Page, Twitter, Email, etc.

(3) Support the TOV Center by contributing – click here.

A TOV Intergenerational Project

I read and shared this FB article about Dutch students who can now live in nursing homes rent-free as long as they keep the residents company. Many people have responded what a great idea this is! Twenty-somethings are flocking to this new idea. It is a unique project that benefits everyone. I remember teaching some younger kids and they were making fun of "old people." I said to them, “If you're lucky, someday you'll get old. Would you like to be treated that way?” Silence.

University students pay no rent and in exchange, spend at least 30 hours a month with some of the 160 elderly who live in this particular facility, doing things professional staff cannot always do -- such as hanging out. They go see the pensioners for a chat, play games, go with them to the shopping center, and do shopping for those who can't.

It is important not to isolate the elderly from the outside world. These ideas are very important in preventing care "ghettoes." I think having young people around elderly people is also an opportunity for the young to hear the stories and learn the "values" of that generation, especially when the old do not have children or grandchildren. It gives the elderly the feeling that someone will remember them. This is also an opportunity for younger people who may feel isolated or lonely to receive attention and love from their "adopted grandparents." As one person said, "When you're 96 years old with a knee problem, the knee isn't going to get any better; but what we can do is create an environment where you forget about the painful knee."

"The sharing idea has resonated in a country where many people do volunteer work, and other retirement homes are coming up with their own variations on a theme." These "intergenerational" projects are springing up elsewhere in Europe, but usually not within retirement homes because of the shortage of rooms." In some schemes, the elderly rent out a room in their own house or apartment; in others, housing projects are built specifically to house the young with the elderly." In Holland, the students prepare simple meals and offer activities according to the resident's interests. They use art, crafts, computer lessons, movies and the like. There is no obligation for the residents to take part in activities.

On another level, it is good for young people to be around those who are dying and death itself. We learn not to fear these things by being able to talk about them with those who are going through the experience. Dying and death make us what we are, human. No one should go through it alone and no one should hide themselves from the valuable lessons it teaches us about living fully, appreciating every precious moment. 

There is no age limit on kindness, on comfort, on company, on healing, on learning, on creativity, and on love. TOV Values rest upon Life and extend to its twins, aging, dying and death. Let us work together to make the whole experience of Living and Dying a TOV Project.

Blessings,

Rabbi Jeffrey Leynor