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30 Y E A

The Chosen People

Shabbat Pesach 1: Exodus 12:21-12:51,
Numbers 28:16-28:25; Joshua 5:2-6:1.

T

he Chosen People. Political cor- exile before assuming leadership of the
rectness, a tremendous sense
people; why the Israelites underwent
of justice and our loving nature persecution before inheriting their own
cringe at these words.
land; and why the Torah is
Chosen. Are we better?
so insistent that this experi-
Smarter? Are we claiming to
ence — the retelling of the
be a superior race? How do we
story on Pesach, along with
reconcile a loving, giving, caring
the never-forgotten taste of
group of people with such an
the bread of affliction and
arrogant claim?
the bitter herbs of slavery
The answer, of course, lies
— should become a perma-
within another question. Chosen
nent part of their collective
for what? What does chosen
Rabbi Shragie memory.”
mean? Elite, as in a soldier
We need a collective
Myers
chosen for SEAL Team train-
national memory of what it
ing? Not too bad a connotation.
is like to be the underdog,
But perhaps it means something more
the refugee, the victims of genocide and
negative?
slavery. Without that, we would fail in
The greatest question one can ask
our mission … being chosen. Chosen
about the entire seder is: Why are we
for what? Chosen to work harder, be
celebrating? Because we were slaves,
held and hold ourselves to a higher
and God took us out? Really?
standard, and to set the tone for an
Who put us into slavery in the first
ever-increasing awareness of others in
place?!
the sphere of one’s personal concerns.
If Fernand himself had sprung
The United Nations gives us our
Edmond Dantes from prison after
message better than anyone. Why do
many years, would Edmond be tremen- they ignore gross injustices the world
dously grateful? Or would he still hatch over while wildly condemning Israel at
his elaborate “Monte Cristo” plot of
the drop of a hat? What kind of double
revenge?
standards are these?
In short, why would a God who is all-
These are our standards. Our job, for
powerful, all-knowing and tremendous- we are chosen to be held to a higher
ly loving imprison “His Chosen Nation” standard. Like the SEAL Team member,
for so many years of back-breaking
we are chosen to take the front lines
labor? And why would we be grate-
fight to the enemy, stand up and, based
ful when he finally let us out? Let us
on our collective memory as a nation,
unravel this thread together to answer
say with absolute conviction, “This is
our original question, “Chosen …”
wrong!” … and step in to make a dif-
The answer, as always, lies hidden
ference.
in plain view in the Torah. “Do not
More Jews participate in a seder
oppress the stranger — for you were
(70 percent) than fast on Yom Kippur
once strangers in a strange land.”
(53 percent) or light Shabbat candles
(Exodus 22:21)
(23 percent); see Pew study at pewrsr.
Is it really necessary to give us a
ch/1hEvIho. The seder has always been
reason? Just don’t oppress anyone! Be
relevant, in the past, today and for our
normal, pay your taxes, have fun, sup-
future. A seder is both a celebration
port your family, help a stranger every
of our birth and an alignment of our
so often and don’t be a jerk!
purpose.
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks writes,
It’s our yearly reminder of what cho-
“To be a Jew is to be a stranger. It is
sen means, why we were chosen and
hard to avoid the conclusion that this is what our job is.
why Abraham is commanded to leave
Let’s get back to work.
land, home and father’s house; why,
Rabbi Shragie Myers is an educator and the
long before Joseph was born, Abraham
executive director of the Yeshiva Beth Yehudah. He
was already told that his descendants
welcomes questions and comments at smyers@
would be “strangers in a land not their
own;” why Moses had to suffer personal yby.org.

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RS

Institute for Retired Professionals

The Jewish Community Center
of Metropolitan Detroit

YOU’RE INVITED TO THE IRP

30th Anniversary
Celebration

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Appetizers: 5 p.m.

Dinner and entertainment:
5:45-9 p.m.

F E AT U R I N G

The Dave Bennett Quartet in
“A Tribute to Benny Goodman”

Congregation Beth Ahm

:0DSOH5RDG:HVW%ORRPƬHOG

(Shuttles for $5 per person, round-trip, will be available from
Congregation Beth Shalom and from the JCC at 4:15 p.m.)

IRP members: $36
Non-members: $45

Reservations and payment required by

Wednesday, May 18

(No reservations accepted or refunds given
after this date)

For reservations or more information:
Sharon Levine, IRP director:
slevine@jccdet.org or 248.432.5406

Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit
D. Dan & Betty Kahn Building
Eugene & Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus
:0DSOH5RDG:HVW%ORRPƬHOG0,

www.jccdet.org

2093290

April 21 • 2016

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