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 Questions and more questions. This is the essence of the seder. "Why is this night different? Chacham what does he ask.? How do we know that each plague was really four or five? Matza and Marror for what purpose? Who knows one? The act of questioning is so important that Jewish law states that one who is alone must ask questions to himself. In fact the Talmud tells us that many of the seder traditions, for example karpas, were instituted for the sole purpose "that the children should ask". And no answer is provided in the Talmud. Thus the most tragic of the children is the "one who does not know how (what) to ask". While we do provide some answers the most famous of the questions the Mah Nishtana is never directly answered, emphasizing that in our way of thinking it is the questions not the answers that are crucial. Answers can change, they can be satisfying to some while inadequate for others, and for some questions we have no answers. However that does not free us from asking the questions.
"In every generation it is one's duty to see himself as though he had personally come out of Egypt". This crucial passage of the Haggadah follows immediately on the heels of the question "this bitter herb - what is its meaning? The Jews in Egypt surely asked themselves, why are we suffering so much? Will there be an end to the slavery? Those aware of the covenant made with Abraham surely asked if it was worth it. Why does G-d allow so much suffering? Why are our children being killed? While we must ask these questions every year we must ask new ones, relevant to us. Why are so many filled with so much hatred? Why is the Western world unable to distinguish between victims and perpetrators? When will the media understand that truth is the essence of a good reporter? And when O G-d, when will Jews be able to live in peace? We may not have the answers but we must grapple with the questions. "For not only one enemy has risen against us to destroy us but in every generation they rise against us to destroy us, and the Holy One Blessed be He saves us form their hand". Immediately thereafter the Haggadah tells us Tzeh Ulemad "- Go and learn. Study Jewish history and you will see the guiding hand of
G-d. You will understand the potential for redemption has never been closer. Next year in Jerusalem for millions of our brethren is happening this year. While it is not yet Yerushalayim Habinuyah , the Jerusalem of peace - that is our prayer for next year - Jerusalem is once again the capital of the Jewish people. Despite the horrors, people continue working, studying, and performing their unbelievable acts of chesed . Most importantly they continue to welcome Jewish children into the world.
Perhaps our generation needs the approach of the third child, the Tam . While many translate tam as the simple child, Biblically the word tam means pure. "Eisav was a man of field whereas Jacob was an Ish Tam , dwelling in the tents" (Bresheet 25:27). "And you shall be tamim (pure) with G-d your Lord" (Devarim 18:13). Having purity of faith is for many a difficult task but one that Jewish history often requires. There is no rational explanation for the Holocaust or for suicide bombers. The intellectual approach of the Chacham is inadequate to explain such atrocities. The mocking rejection of the Rasha is one that can destroy the Jewish community and the apathy of the Sh'eeino yodeh lishool lets evil grow. We accept that G-d has a master plan even though it defies our comprehension. We tell the tam "with a strong hand did the Lord take us out of Egypt from the house of bondage". The Egyptians got their due and those 20% of the Jewish people who remained faithful and had the courage to follow Moshe were rewarded with our beautiful Torah and eventually with the land of Israel. "This year we are slaves, next year may be be free". This year we are at war, next year may we be at peace. Chag Kasher V'Sameach!
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