Eve Posen

The Definition of Slavery – Pesach 5775

April 9, 2015April 9, 2015Eve PosenLeave a comment

Avadim Hayinu, Atah B’nei Chorin – Once we were slaves, strangers in a strange land, building pyramids, answering to a Pharaoh, oppressed, tired, hot. Now we are free.

Every year at the Passover seder, we sing this upbeat song.

Avadim Hayinu, Hayinu, atah benei chorin, bnei chorin.

(Slaves, we were, now, we are free people.)

But are we really free? And how do we know for sure?

As typically defined, a slave is “a person who is the property of and wholly subject to another, or a person entirely under the domination of some influence or person.” And freedom is “exemption from external control, interference, and regulation.”

So based on these definitions, are you free? Are you free from external controls, from the influence and interference of others?

Passover is the holiday of freedom, the holiday during which we remember the exodus from Egypt. Passover is the time when we remember our past, but on a personal level it’s a time for us to recognize who we are, and how far we have come from last year. Here we are, halfway through another year. What does that mean?

Passover begins a period of counting. We begin with the 8 days of the holiday, 8 days of matzah, 8 days of celebration. Then we move on and continue counting 49 days until we arrive at Shavuot and the gift of the Torah. And then we stop. The rest of the year it’s so easy to lose track of time. I forget what day of the week it is, and before I know it, Shabbat is here again and I’m running around all over again the next week. We often remark that a week “flew by,” but in reality, the week went by at the same pace it always does; it was still the same 7 individual 24-hour days. The week didn’t fly by; rather, we were too busy to take time and realize what was going on in the world around us. Why is it that for the next 50 days we are so aware of ourselves and the days?

We say in the Haggadah “This year we are still slaves; next year, may we all be free.” And I have often wondered what am I a slave to? How am I in bondage? What makes us slaves? Perhaps one answer is time. As much as I try to live each week fully, they fly by and the months are over so quickly. Sometimes I can barely remember as far back as two days ago.

Part of the challenge of Passover is knowing that next year we will reach the same point, but not knowing what will come in between, and worse yet, how we’ll fit it all in. All we can do is strive to be more aware of every day, not just those that we count after Passover. This year, as we count the days, weeks and months, may it be with anticipation of what is to come in the world. And may this year bring with it more freedom to enjoy those in-between moments that go uncounted. This year, we are still slaves to ourselves, to our work, to time; next year may we be free.

Experiencing Freedom – Pesach 5775

April 3, 2015April 2, 2015Eve Posen3 Comments

Passover seder in my family is the event of the year. For as long as I can remember we would start preparing for the seder well before Purim, not for the cleaning, cooking or purchasing, but for the games, activities, discussions and parody songs that would be created for the seder that year. As three generations of our family sat together, we ate the same foods, told the same story, read the same Haggadah and responsive readings every year, but the conversations changed and the excitement always grew each year.

Around the world, Passover is the most observed holiday on the Jewish calendar. While not all Jews observe the laws of Passover to the same extent, the narrative of our people lives on through this holiday. Every family has their own tradition that connects to Passover. And, the experiential nature of the Seder lends itself to the enjoyment and understanding of young and old alike.

The holiday of Pesach is often spoken about in Jewish education circles as the initial example of experiential education. Coming before we had summer camps and youth groups to depend on to give our students an experience, the seder provides all of the essential elements to an educational experience. It begins with the lesson plan, the 15 steps that let the learner know what will be covered during the “lesson.” The Torah clearly gives us our educational objective – the SWBAT (by the end of the lesson, “Students Will Be Able To”) – in Shemot, chapter 13, verse 8, when it tells us that we are to tell our children on this day that it is because of what God did for me when I went forth from Egypt. And so, we set out on this journey with the understanding that the seder is supposed to in some way explain to us and make us feel the connection with our ancestors in Egypt and the power of faith in God that brings us to each Pesach.

It is from this love that I offer the following suggestions to liven up the experience of your seder. They have been compiled from many years of trying to please an audience from 3 years old to 85 years old.

1. Make a large poster board that lists the order of the seder on it and move the arrow down after each time you complete a step. This way, no one has to ask when dinner is.

2. Instead of waiting to serve the meal at Shulchan Orech, offer a salad course, or dip like guacamole after the karpas so your guests’ tummies don’t start to rumble.

3. Pre-assign parts to your seder guests, asking each family to write their own meditation on a step of the seder to be shared that night.

4. Have your guests come in costumes; whether they dress as Egyptians, Israelites, or the 10 plagues, you’re sure to have a fun time. Or, hold your seder in the family room so that you can really recline!

5. Create a mini seder plate for each guest.

6. When you reach the 10 plagues, instead of just reading through them, play 10 plague charades and have seder participants act out the plagues and other participants guess which plague it is.

7. Make your own Passover themed game to entertain guests after desert before finishing the Seder. “Apples to Charoset” is my favorite, a take on Apples to Apples. You can also play Passover trivia in the name of “Who Wants to be a Minyannaire,” “Wheel of Freedom,” “Pyramid,” or the ever popular “Jewpardy.” Feel free to tweet me for any these games – they are our family’s creation!

8. If you have many seder guests over 21, have each of them bring a bottle of kosher for Passover wine to share and do a wine tasting with each glass.

9. Passover marks the freedom of the Israelites. One sign of freedom is the ability to ask questions. The sage Hillel used to put unexpected items on his seder table to provoke question asking.

10. The seder has many numbers associated with it: 3 matzot, 4 cups of wine, 4 sons. For each pairing, see if you can come up with your own dedication for each one with relation to what it symbolizes.

Hag Pesach Kasher V’sameach, may this be a holiday of joy and rebirth for each of us.

photo credit: Plague finger puppets. Win! via photopin (license)

My Only Sunshine – Parshat Tzav 5775

March 27, 2015March 26, 2015Eve Posen2 Comments

As a newcomer to Portland, I was warned several times about the “gray days” and the feeling of gloom that accompanies them. I thought I was at an advantage going in because I do love the rain, and I was assured I’d still be able to go outside and walk nearly every day, even with the drizzle. While that has been mostly true, the usual lull that starts midwinter and precedes the spring is only made drearier by the frequently gray skies.

Interestingly, it is during this lull in the year that we read a section of Torah text that lacks in narrative drive and excitement. Sefer Vayikra, the third book of the Torah, is mostly filled with ritual sacrifices and laws pertaining to the priests. It can be difficult to relate to this book, as we no longer engage in sacrifices and the “high priest” no longer has this prominent role.

Parshat Tzav begins with the instructions for the priests with regard to the different sacrifices. After discussing the need for the eternal flame, the text continues by teaching the prohibition against eating milk and meat together and then offers up a final review of the sanctification ceremony of the priests and their roles.

In chapter 7, verse 37 of this parshah, we read the words “zot HaTorah.” Literally translated, this section of text tells us “this is the instruction,” specifically referring to the work of the priests and their obligations in the world. However, these words are more broadly interpreted by Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk to read, “this is the Torah.” The entire Torah can be summed up within the rules and laws of sacrifices.

Taking this understanding further, the Kotzker rebbe comments that each of the root words of the Hebrew offerings sheds light onto how these offerings are relevant today. “The Torah leads some people to olah (rising higher) and minchah (generosity), but leads other people to hattat and asham (feelings of guilt). The summary list concludes with shlamim, even as so many Jewish prayers, including the Amidah, the priestly benediction, and the Kaddish, conclude with shalom, peace, the ultimate blessing.”

The saying goes “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” Presumably this helps us cope with the lull we might be feeling in between a gray winter and a vibrant spring. As we read parshat Tzav and this list of sacrifices, we are encouraged to find the ways in which Torah can lift us up even in the drearier times and offer opportunities for healing, generosity, and love. On gray days we have prayers for sun; on sunny days, we remember the beauty of the rain. This is the Torah, the mundane and the extraordinary.

Don’t Speak – Parshat Vayikra 5775

March 20, 2015Eve Posen3 Comments

There are times in my life when I’ve used words inappropriately, whether it was in the heat of an argument with a loved one or a harsher-than-necessary reaction when disciplining a student. There are times when I’ve promised to do something, knowing full well that I would never have the time to do it. There are other times when I’ve opened my mouth, intending to say one thing, and instead said the complete opposite. We all know the rule “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Saying just the right thing at the right time is often difficult, but keeping quiet can be even harder.

Multiple laws in the Torah remind us of the power of our speech. The very beginning of the Torah is the creation of the world, which happens by God speaking about the light and darkness and it becoming so. Just as words from God can create and destroy the world, so too our words towards each other have the power to create and destroy. This lesson is driven home in parshat Vayikra, which we read this week.

When it comes to routine and ritual, the Torah has us covered. This week as we begin sefer Vayikra, the book of Leviticus, we find ourselves immersed in the listing of mitzvot (commandments) on how to live our lives. This begins with the explanation of the sacrifices that we are to give daily, weekly, and yearly. We learn that there can be a sacrifice made in times of joy and in times of sorrow. There is a special sacrifice for being guilty of a sin and others for complete thanksgiving. As sefer Vayikra continues, we learn about the laws of how to treat one another, how to engage in holy relationships, and how our calendar and meals should reflect our innermost values and desires.

Chapter 5, verse 4 of our text states, “Or when a person utters an oath to bad or good purpose – whatever a man may utter in an oath . . . if he realizes his guilt . . .” The Torah expects that uttering oaths will lead to guilt. In this section of text, the Torah is warning against saying you’ll do more than you can. “Say little, do much,” as we learn in Perkei Avot, was the original version of “Under promise, over deliver,” a lesson from which we can all learn.

Instead of letting words simply fall out of our mouths in the midst of an argument or in an attempt to have the last words in a conversation, we are reminded to think first about the impact our words will have. It’s like the adage that we ought to think twice before speaking once. If it isn’t necessary, if it isn’t positive, if it isn’t helpful, or if it isn’t attainable, then it isn’t worth saying.

Shabbat doesn’t have to be merely a time to refrain from work; you can take this opportunity to rest from the sarcasm, to rest from the unsolicited advice, and to rest from the circular conversations that leave us unfulfilled and unproductive. Say little, do much.

Positive Reinforcement – Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei

March 13, 2015March 12, 2015Eve PosenLeave a comment

Since we moved to Portland, our dog Stanley has required a little extra love and attention. We even brought in a trainer again to help us work on some of his behavior issues. In the last session with our trainer, it became clear that just as important as having consistent expectations for him is the positive reinforcement we give him. An enthusiastic “Good boy!” should be the words out of my mouth when he does the right thing. Animals – and people alike – appreciate a “Job well done!” at the end of a task.

The double portion we read this week, Vayakhel-Pekudei (the final portions in sefer Shemot), teaches about the work of building the Tabernacle. Moshe, the great leader of the Israelite people from Egypt back to the land of Israel, is given enormous responsibility. He is asked not only to lead the people and be the emissary between the people and God, but also to take care of the accounting of the materials needed to build the Tabernacle and all that goes with it. These parshiyot end with the establishment of the sacred space, with God and the people taking a good look at what they have accomplished.

Over half of the narrative in the book of Exodus, which we complete this week, has to do with building the priestly vestments, the Ark, and the Tabernacle. The building of these holy spaces and articles is important; it is the continued work of creation performed by the community.

In Bereshit (Genesis) we get an accounting of each day of creation, and at the end of it, God has the positive reinforcement, “Ki tov” – “it was good.” Up until the seventh day, the reinforcement is “good,” but on the final day of creation, God offers a blessing to the world, the blessing of Shabbat and divine approval.

The book of Exodus has the same pattern and ends the same way. “So the Israelites had done all the work. And when Moses saw that they had performed all the tasks – as the Lord had commanded, so they had done – Moses blessed them.” The Israelites had done more than a good job creating this space, and Moses, God’s mouthpiece, blessed them. The midrash Tanchuma supplies the words “May it be God’s will that the divine Presence rest upon the work of your hands.”

May we enter this Shabbat with not only the positive reinforcement of a week well lived, but with the blessing of using what we’ve built in the future to come.