Observances & Rituals:
Togetherness
By Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg
April 11, 2008

A small child wandered from this home and was lost in the forest. When his mother could not find him, she implored her neighbors to help her search for her child. Neighbors and friends ran helter-skelter into the forest searching for the lost little boy. But as the sun began to set, and it grew dark, they all returned without finding the little child.

They turned to the distraught mother and tried to convince her that with the sun setting, it was useless to search for her child, and it would be wiser to wait for morning to continue the search. The young mother would not hear of this and made one final request of her neighbors and friends.

"Let's try once again, but this time, let's join hands and in one great line, screen out the forest; and we will know we covered all the territory." The neighbors complied. They joined hands, fanned out, and once again went looking for the lost child. This time, fortunately, they found the youngster cuddled up cold and asleep behind a rock. The mother turned to her friends and neighbors and said, "I knew if we joined hands we would find my son."

The holiday of Passover emphasizes the concept of "togetherness." At our seder table, we symbolically join hands in full support of our brethren throughout the world. We loudly exclaim, "Utter destruction awaits any power which denies freedom, liberty, and justice to the children of God." 

Passover proclaims in universal terms that the protection of human dignity and basic ethical principals are the main and ultimate objects of government.

Passover is more than a festival; it is a new way of looking at the world. It is seeing things not only as they are but what they can be. It tells us that in moments of deepest suffering there is still hope, in times of stress there is still reason to hold fast to one's faith. It teaches us that the human spirit -- when there is this sense of faith -- can triumph over even subjugation and oppression. It provides us with a most important ingredient without which we could not live: promise for the future.

The future of America lies in our hands. We can lift it high or, God forbid, bring it low. Its future destiny is entirely in our hands. We recall the story of Moses in the desert of Midian. God appeared to him and told Moses to return to Egypt to redeem the children of Israel. The humble Moses hesitated and was reluctant to obey. Then God asked Moses: "What is in your hand?" and Moses replied, "A staff." And God said: "Cast it to the ground." When he did as he was ordered, it turned into a snake.

The lesson is simple and direct. Moses was told by this symbolic act that the fate and future destiny of his people were in his hands, he would perform wonders for his people, lead them to freedom, give them God's law and make of them "A kingdom of priests and a holy nation." But if he would let it slip from his hands, if he would shun his responsibility, the staff would turn into a serpent, which would poison and do irreparable harm to his people and doom them forever to be the slaves of Egypt. 

In our hands we all have precious gifts. Gifts such as love, honor, and opportunity. The happiness of our families, the future of our children, the good name and strength of our beloved country are in our hands.

The fate of America will inevitably depend on how its citizens use these blessings. We can drop them to the ground and poison our lives, or we can lift them high. The choice is up to us.

Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg is the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth-El, Edison.