TOGETHERNESS

   We live in a society that seems to exist under the rubric of entitlement and philosophy of  ‘Es Kumpt Mir,’  it is coming to me and I deserve all the benefits. This, I sense, has become part of our demeanor in our lives and in the lives of our children. 

   This way of thinking has led to a lack of appreciation and gratitude for the blessings that have been bestowed upon us and to recognize a need for greater הכרת הטוב to those around us and especially to Hashem. This is especially true as we approach the Yom Tov of Pesach, an ideal time to express our Hakoras Hatov and to infuse this Midah into our lives. 

  Hakoras Hatov is the message that we are to bring to the Seder to understand the impact that this very special Yom Tov engenders in each of us. Too often we get bogged down by the inconsequential and lose the opportunity to foster a greater involvement in reaching our true goals in life. 

  I remember reading an insightful philosophy of life “Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time.  It is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable". 

     Pesach is truly the Yom Tov of action, a time for the true redemption of the Jewish People. We begin this glorious process as we gather, together, with our families at the Seder and commemorate the Geulat Mitzrayim. Keeping this thought in mind, a simple but profound word comes to mind. That word is “Togetherness.”

   The Torah relates that at the first Seder we were instructed איש שה לבית - calling

for Togetherness. Being together brings hope and strength. Today, more than ever, not only, at the Seder do we need this attitude but we must always exhibit greater concern and empathy for each other whereby we will herald a time of peace and tranquility for the Jewish People. 

   It seems to me that in addition to this idea of togetherness, we are asked to remember three ideas for the assurance of a Judaic way of life that will insure a perpetuation of Judaism into the next generation. 

  The message to everyone is a threefold one;

1. לזכור העבר, remember the past,

2. לחיות בהוה, live in the present, 

3. לבטוח בעתיד, trust in the future. 

     Pesach instructs us to remember the past and we are continually enjoined to tell the story of our slavery in Egypt and how, by the grace of G-D, we were redeemed, marching onward to Mt. Sinai to receive the Torah and to become a ממלכת כוהנים וגוי קדוש להי. In this process we were enjoined והגדת לבנך, in our remembering the past. We must teach our children so that they will always carry the message into the next generation. 

    At the same time, לחיות בהוה, to live a vibrant Jewish life in the present, bringing beauty and meaning to our daily life.

  As we do so, we can then, לבטוח בעתיד, we can forge ahead into the future with greater confidence and optimism that Judaism will see a brighter day for עם ישראל, a day that we will be able to sing a שירה חדשה, heralding and welcoming as we do at our Seder, our Eliyahu, who will bring the גאולה שלמה, that we have patiently hoped and prayed for all these years. 

   Together, we will help to achieve these goals of Judaism. Together, we will remember the past, live in the present and herald the future- but only if we do so together as an עם אחד. 

  The future is in our hands. May we live up to our responsibilities and may we all see the final redemption of the Jewish People quickly in our time. 

                                                   חג כשר ושמח