Words From Rabbi White

Dear congregants,

I trust that you all had a happy, healthy, and kosher Pesah. By now, our houses are back in pre-Pesah mode. As we say at the Maimuna “tirbachu vetis`adu,” i.e., may you prosper and eat well.

WE WERE SLAVES, AND THEREFORE…

Reflecting for a while on the seder: after the kiddush, the youngest child expresses his/her amazement and asks 4 questions: why is there matza on the table, but no bread; why do we have to eat a bitter vegetable; why do we have to dunk a vegetable twice; why is everyone relaxing on a pillow while they eat?

We then all respond with a rousing rendition of “`avadim hayinu.” We explain that we were slaves in Egypt, and had HaShem not taken us out, we would still be slaves, and you, dear children, would have to learn how to write in hieroglyphics, with more than 1000 characters! You would never get beyond first grade!!

Seriously, the institution of slavery was accepted in the ancient world. Indeed, there have been studies that until the American Civil War, many Jews in southern States kept slaves. [Canada had a better record, and Britain passed the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833.]

So the question arises, even if slavery was accepted in society, how should a Jewish plantation owner treat his slaves?

Here is what Maimonides wrote, in his classic 12^th century work of Jewish law, the Mishneh Torah, Book of Acquisitions, chapter 9: “...it is the quality of piety and the way of wisdom that a man be merciful...and not make his yoke heavy on the slave or distress him, but rather to give him to eat and drink of all food and drinks….to give the meal of the slaves precedence over his own….Thus also, the master should not disgrace them by hand or by word...Nor should he heap upon the slave oral abuse and anger, but should rather speak to him softly and listen to his claims… Cruelty and effrontery are not frequent except with heathens.  The Israelites...are merciful people who have mercy upon all.” [Translation abridged from Rav Prof. Twersky’s “Maimonides Reader.”].

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On Monday, 30 Nisan, Michael Rubin observes for his grandfather David Isadore Rubin.

Wednesday, 3 iyyar, is the yahrzeit of our dear friend Binyamin ben Noach, Ben Gordon.

May their memories be for a blessing.

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Since the 5^th of iyyar will be next shabbat, Yom Ha`atsma`ut will be observed this coming Wednesday night and Thursday. The day before will be Yom HaZikkaron for Israeli soldiers and victims of terror.

Rosh Hodesh Iyar is this coming Monday and Tuesday. Molad Sunday evening, 26 minutes and 2 halaqim after 8.

Shabbat shalom, Mo`adim le-simcha, Rabbi Menahem White, Chevra Shaas