march / april 2007:

30 Second Sermon
Words of wisdom this Passover from the Assistant Director of the Manhattan Jewish Experience.

By Rabbi Ezra A. Cohen



As the Passover seder night quickly approaches, we hurriedly begin to focus on its myriad laws and details.

Many thoughts flash through our minds: How can we make this year’s seder more meaningful, which child would best be suited to read the passage about the simple son, what is the proper measurement of matzah which we must eat to fulfill the commandment and, of course, which wine will go best with the meal being served. Not far into our studies, we come to the conclusion that the primary purpose of the seder night lies in the fulfillment of the commandment to retell the story of the exodus from Egypt. If this is so, we may wonder, why must we dedicate so much time and attention to the many details and practices which are a part of the Haggadah? Why can’t we simply close our eyes for a few minutes, tell the story, quickly imagine ourselves being a part of the mass departure from Egypt, and cut straight to the matzah ball soup?

Perhaps this question can be answered based upon the famous Talmudic dictum known as Tafasta: “If you grab for a lot you’ll come up with nothing, but if you grab for a little you’ll gain a lot.” So how does this relate to the seder? We relate best to historical events through studying their gradual developments and experiencing their minute details. On the seder night, we cannot simply think about the entire exodus experience in the abstract and expect to gain an accurate sense of what happened. We must follow a detailed script, digesting each point on its own in a particular order, so that we can connect to the event. Closing our eyes and meditating would not be enough. We need the step-by-step process of the Passover seder to properly fulfill this commandment. If we grab for too much at once and don’t allow ourselves the requisite time to achieve a proper understanding, we are liable to come out with nothing at all.


If you'd like to comment on this article, email us a Letter to the Editor.