Whats up with Pesach ? | Discussion Page
Synopsis
Whats up with Pesach ?
The urgent need of Pesach in our Jewish and Global era
Maggid – Retelling the Passover Story
This is the bread of poverty
that our fathers ate in the land of Egypt.
Whoever is hungry, let him come and eat;
whoever is in need, let him come and participate
This year free people.
Summary
The Discussion
Pesach is clearly the most family oriented holiday in the Jewish calendar. This element of the Seder is engraved in the Halacha .
On the other hand, Pesach is notorious for its Jewish and universal is message of freedom see for example a this captivating dialogue between Senator Joseph Lieberman and Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks .
The question is does family orientation correlate the strong universal message of freedom?
Last year I came upon a fascinating book, “Escape from Freedom”, by the Jewish psychologist Erich Fromm . In his book he make a distinction between what he calls ‘freedom from’ and ‘freedom to’. The first is the most known for example – slaves becoming free (both in Egypt ,African Americans ). Basically it is the freedom from any constraints imposed by other people . These include not only physical limitations but also cultural and as social conventions) .But according to Fromm it is not enough. ‘freedom to’ reconnects man with others “that goes beyond the superficial bonds of conventional social intercourse: “…
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x
I am not sure how do you tie the “freedom for” necessarily applies only to the family.
A person can live for his nation , for a scientific achievement , to save the planet etc.?
I once saw a fascinating Ted talk
that claims that in our generation we are
less free because we are more free: ,
Our overwhelming
almost infinite freedom of choice.
has made us not freer
but more paralyzed,
Last Posts
I am not sure how do you tie the “freedom for”
necessarily applies only to the family.
Can’t A person can live for his nation ,
for a scientific achievement , to save the planet etc.?
Hell is (not) the Other
Aaron Fogelson statement reflects the common contemporary idea of the the goal of the individual.
Jean-Paul Sartre proclaimed that “The other is Hell” and that the only way to reach freedom is by solitude
Judaism demands the opposite !
Following his Miztva of rejoicing with your family
The Rambam states very sharply that :
” if one locks his doors and eats and drinks only with his family..
This is not the joy which was commanded,
but [merely] satisfying his stomach..
About such people, it is said :
“all who eat it will be contaminated”
It is this Idea that leads us to begin the Seder
With inviting the poor and the homeless to celebrate with us
Whats the Idea behind it?
Thats for you to find out tonight !
Udi Lion
Aaron Fogelson statement reflects the common contemporary idea of the the goal of the individual.
Jean-Paul Sartre proclaimed that “The other is Hell” and that the only way to reach freedom is by solitude
Judaism demands the opposite !
Following his Miztva of rejoicing with your family The Rambam states very sharply that :
” if one locks his doors and eats and drinks only with his family..This is not the joy which was commanded but satisfying his stomach..
About such people, it is said :
“all who eat it will be contaminated”
It is this Idea that leads us to begin the Seder by inviting the poor and the homeless to celebrate with us
Whats the Idea behind it?
Thats for you to find out tonight !