MARCH 25 • 2021 | 33

COMMENTARY

The Quest for 
Curiosity Begins 
with the Seder
L

earning to nurture 
curiosity is the quest 
of our times. 
How do we nurture 
in our children and in 
ourselves curiosity, 
not cynicism? 
Fascination not 
apathy? How do we 
raise a generation of 
curious kids?
In a fast-changing 
world, as technology 
shifts the way we 
live, learn, work and 
play — and established 
professions quickly 
become obsolete — how 
do we equip them with the 
curiosity necessary to adapt 
and find their place?
More fundamentally, in a 
world of mass cynicism and 
apathy, how do we raise our 
children to be engaged and 
enthusiastic, to be excited 
about life? And excited 
about being Jewish?

ASKING QUESTIONS
The Passover seder is a 
crash course in curiosity. 
We kick off the main section 
— during which we relive 
the great beginnings of the 
Jewish people, our Exodus 
from Egypt and our liber-
ation from slavery — with 
“Mah Nishtanah?” (“The Four 
Questions”) traditionally 
sung or recited by the young-
est child. One of the reasons 
we do this is as a warmup 
exercise to provoke our curi-
osity for the remainder of the 

seder.
This element of curiosity, 
of childlike wonder, 
continues throughout the 
seder. We point, we probe, 
we speculate, we 
marvel. 
And it’s not just the 
children. If there are 
no children attending, 
then an adult will ask 
the four questions. 
Indeed, at the seder, 
we are all children; 
we are all curious. 
And if, like the simple 
son, we lack that curiosity 
and “don’t know how to 
ask,” others must “open up 
the conversation for us,” 
provoking us into a curious 
state.

PROVOKING THOUGHT
People conventionally under-
stand the seder to be about 
getting the children to ask 
questions. But it’s deeper 
than that. It’s about provok-
ing curiosity. 
Curiosity is more 
profound; it’s what makes 
us care enough to ask 
questions in the first 
place. To be curious is to 
show an interest — and to 
be interested enough to 
want to know more. It’s a 
fascination that is expressed 
through a question that 
arises in your mind. 

Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein is the 

chief rabbi of South Africa.

Rabbi 
Warren 
Goldstein
JNS

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Let our experienced team at Le Shoppe Too & Changing 
Hands handle your Estate Sale needs. Your items can 
be valued and consigned or auctioned at our store. 
We offer hands free-hassle free estate sales.

Call Leslie Weisberg today for a free consultation

changinghandsestates.com

3325 ORCHARD LAKE RD, KEEGO HARBOR, MI

248.481.8884

www.leshoppetoo.com

UPSCALE CONSIGNMENT & AUCTION HOUSE

ICONIC 20th CENTURY FURNITURE, 
FINE-ART, HOME DECOR & LIGHTING

Support Local 
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HOURS

TUES–SAT Noon–5pm | MON closed
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FREE
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HAPPY
PASSOVER!

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WE ARE OBSERVING ALL STATE COVID-19
GUIDELINES & RESTRICTIONS

248.709.9648

Let our experienced team at Le Shoppe Too & Changing 
Hands handle your Estate Sale needs. Your items can 
be valued and consigned or auctioned at our store. 
We offer hands free-hassle free estate sales.

Call Leslie Weisberg today for a free consultation

changinghandsestates.com

3325 ORCHARD LAKE RD, KEEGO HARBOR, MI

248.481.8884

www.leshoppetoo.com

UPSCALE CONSIGNMENT & AUCTION HOUSE

ICONIC 20th CENTURY FURNITURE, 
FINE-ART, HOME DECOR & LIGHTING

Support Local 
Businesses

HOURS

TUES–SAT Noon–5pm | MON closed
SUN & evenings by appointment only

FREE
preliminary
art appraisals 
Wednesday’s 12-4
with Terri

DFAA:

248.672.3207
DetroitFAA.com

DetroitFineArtAppraisals@gmail.com

SPIRIT

