TORAH PORTION The Passover Plunge Shabbat Seventh Day Pesach: Exodus 13:17-15:26; Numbers 28:19- 25; ll Samuel 22:1-51. T he last days of Passover was Nachshon Ben Aminaday. The always feel a bit empty. The cold water rushed in around him, but first days are rich with his- it didn't split. He kept walking, and it tory and ritual. They have the seder still didn't split. The water reached his nights, on which families gather nostrils, and he was just a few steps together to celebrate the away from death, when sud- Jews' Exodus from Egypt denly, the sea split; and the which happened thousands people were saved. of years ago. Nachshon was a man In comparison, the last who looked at an impos- days feel like the forgot- sible situation and saw a ten brother of the musical viable one; a man who saw genius or the potatoes sit- no response but kept going ting alongside a juicy steak forward. He knew that — it gets attention, but only when on a spiritual journey as an afterthought. Is there there are no boundaries, no Rabbi Leiby anything we should do on ceilings and no limits. Burn ham the last days of Passover When we tap into the Specia I to the other than try to finish up infinite power of spiritual- Jewis h News the leftover matzah, maca- ity, what appears to be a roons and borsht? stormy sea can split and In truth, the last days of Passover open up a whole new vista — as long not only have a rich history, but also as we take that first plunge. a very important message. It was on The last days of Passover are when the 21st of Nissan, the seventh day of we are supposed to pick a plunge. We Pesach, that the Reed Sea split to allow are about to launch into a long period the Jews to walk through on dry land of self-development leading up to and then fell back upon the Egyptians Shavuot, the celebration of our receiv- pursuing the Jews, thus erasing the ing the Torah. last vestiges of the Jewish people's We need to look back at what char- 210-year persecution. acter trait or negative habit is chasing It was on this day that the Jews sang us, threatening our freedom to be our the beautiful "Az Yashir," interweaving selves. We need to take a look forward thanks, joy and praise into a song that into the sea of doubt that tells us we is still part of the prayer service today. can never best it. And then we take the In addition, we gained a new Passover Plunge! ❑ hero and role model, Nachshon Ben Aminaday. He doesn't get a lot of Leiby Burnham is associate director of mention in the Torah, and many have the Jean and Theodore Weiss Partners never heard of him; but he encapsu- in Torah program based at Yeshiva Beth lates the message of the last days of Yehudah in Southfield. Passover. The Jews are trapped. In front of them was the raging Reed Sea and quickly closing in behind them was a Conversations massive, unified Egyptian force. The Is there any area I would like to people cry out to Moses in fear, and see myself improve, but think it he assures them that God will wage is too difficult? What was going war for them. He tells them that it's the through Nachshon's mind when wrong time to pray. What they need to he walked into the water? What do now is prove their faith by plunging would have happened to the into the water. If they show faith, God Jewish people had Nachshon will split the sea for them, and they not jumped in? What would have can leave Egypt behind forever. But happened to Nachshon? How they tremble at the shore. Who will can I be a Nachson in my own enter the tumultuous sea? life? How will that change me? The first one to stride into the water THIS WEEKEND AT THE NEW DIA. Friday Night Live!: Go back in time as the Detroit Brass Society performs American music from the early part of the 1900s. Saturday: Make a kite at the drop-in workshop. Target Family Sundays: Pat Roan Judd shares traditional stories in "Around the World with Puppets and Poetry:' Now on View: Life's Pleasures: The Ashcan Artists' Brush with Leisure, 1895 1925. Visit dia.org for tickets. - Programs are made possible with support from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the City of Detroit. 5 2 0 0 Wood.Nard Ave. 313-833-7900 DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS Va e t SPRING SPECIAL Val ett Three Course ,Nleiti e"" S95 Includes: Soup or Salad Choice of Duck a L'Orange, Sea Bass, Rack of Lamb or New York Steak Jockey Club. Dessert: Ice Cream or Chocolate iNlousse $20 - Four course meal. Early dining only! Call for more information. POZft RESTAURANT Rated ***** By Detroit City Guide MOTHER'S DAY BRUNCH Call for reservations! Hours: Tues. - Thurs. 5pm - lOpm • Fri. & Sat. 5pm - lipm Afternoon High Tea Fri. & Sat. - 12:30pm - 4pm - by reservation 5586 Drake Road • W'est Bloomfield • MI -i85 9 2 • 9- 8-59°-1500 SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY, Shop with our advertisers! April 24 V 2008 A53