Pesach: The Last Days

Pesach - Last Days

Nissan 21, 5772 ~ April 13, 2012

by Sara Liss-Katz

Because the last day of Pesach falls on Shabbat we begin this week’s Torah reading with D’varim 14:22. At first glance this section does not appear to have a direct relationship to Pesach; focusing instead on the responsibilities of individuals and the community. This section begins with the requirements associated with the second tithe to be provided to the Levites (after reserving the first tithe, T’rumah, the Kohen’s portion) in years 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the seven year shemittah cycle. The second (as well as the first) commands that each Jew travel to Jerusalem to deliver and partake in this tithe. Section 14:23 continues with the commandments in years 3 (and 6) “At the end of three years you shall take out every tithe of your crop in that year and set it down in your cities. The Levite can come, for he has no portion or inheritance with you; and the proselyte, the orphan and the widow who are in your cities, so they may eat and be satisfied in order that HaShem will bless you in all your handiwork that you may undertake.” We see here the tithe for the 3^rd year is not a tithe directly related to a specific city, Jerusalem, but one that is in support of each and every local community. The tithe of the 3^rd year is the charitable contribution for the community.

D’varim 15:1-18 continues to describe charitable obligations such as the observance of the seventh year of shemittah, the forgiving of loans, freeing of slaves and giving to those less fortunate. . Here we begin to have an inkling of how this might be connected to Pesach. Section 15:15 states “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt and Hashem redeemed you.” Our ancestors were slaves in Egypt, we were impoverished and suffering and HaShem heard our suffering. By fulfilling the commandments in this section to provide for those less fortunate in our communities we demonstrate by our actions that we are thankful and we remember.

D’varim 15:19-23 describes the consecration and sacrifice of firstborn animals. Although it is not directly referenced this section clearly has a relationship to Pesach and the Pesach offering. D’varim 16:1-8 describes the commandments that are focused on obligation of the individual to contribute to the Pesach sacrifices and observe the Pesach holiday which historically commenced with a pilgrimage to the temple in Jerusalem. This week’s maftir portion is taken from a section of Bamidbar 28:16-25 which describes the temple offerings for Pesach.

There are several themes running though these sections that relate to various aspects of Pesach. These include our historic communal obligations for pilgrimage to Jerusalem and temple sacrifice as well as specific responsibilities and obligations each of us has in support of our community. The maftir section describes obligations specifically dealing with Pesach offerings, which without the Temple in Jerusalem, we are not able to fulfill. We can, however, observe the commandments with regards to charity as described in D’varim15:1-19. The commandment to support those less fortunate is do-able and more important than ever. As it states at the end of D’varim 15:11, “… for destitute people will not cease to exist”. This gives each of us the opportunity to provide redemption to others. Our ability to provide charity is a precursor to a desired, greater redemption for the Jewish community. The pairing of this week’s haftorah, Isaiah 10:32 – 12:36, linking each individual’s acts of love and kindness with national salvation further supports this concept.

I especially love the holiday of Pesach and especially the Seders because they take an historic event and make it ongoing and timeless. Pesach reminds us of our delivery and redemption, “in every age” - the historic exodus from Egypt, our ancestors recovery from the destruction of the temple and every other misfortune that has befallen us throughout history. In this Torah reading, we learn of many of the laws that give structure to the community, in terms of tithes and charitable obligations. We also delve in to aspects of the community that serve to give us a reminder that we are not to function as individuals only, that we are and will remain as part of a community. It is when we put these two elements together that we can see where the strength that comes from these two elements and that with Hashem’s constant patient guidance we have been able to overcome many obstacles that have been placed in our path, and yes to even hope for a better future. That we, as Jews, were not only able to survive the destruction of something as central to our religion as the Temple but to grow and thrive is a miracle from Hashem – to remember and celebrate. The history embodied in the Pesach story is repeated each year calling us to take a concentrated look at the meaning of freedom, community and the part that each individual plays to achieve it. We retell the story of the exodus from Egypt while reminding ourselves that redemption is communal as well as individual – historic and ongoing.

The miracle of Passover reinvents itself anew for each of us every year as we grow and our own personal redemption is influenced and redefined by events which shape our lives in the “here and now”.

This Shabbat we are reminded that while we no longer have a temple where we can come to sacrifice and worship together we have Pesach a holiday that links us, as individual Jews to each other and to an historic time and place and a reminder that redemption – both personal and national, is possible.