Enjoy Passover Midor Lador

Enjoy Passover Midor Lador

Rabbi Yitzchok Newman | Hebrew Academy

Passover which commemorates the Jews Biblical flight from Egypt to Israel is celebrated by the Seder this year on Saturday night April 12th. Based on Pew Research data it is attended by nearly three out of four US Jews. After the tragic events of October 7th in Israel and the increase of antisemitism around the world we have seen an uptick in Jewish engagement and by all accounts the numbers attending the Seder will increase significantly this year.

In transmitting the story of the exodus the haggadah or guidebook at the Seder places special importance on the children. They ask “why is this night different?” and the assembled tell the story to the colloquial Four Sons. In addition most of the ritual is experiential by inviting guests, tasting the hand baked shmura matza and the bitter herbs, greeting Elijah the prophet, lighting candles and much more. And the ritual takes place in the home rather than the synagogue. These practices are indicative of the importance of the family in the Jewish education of our children and the lasting value of their experiential involvement.

It is amazing how lasting an impression can be when children experience it through their personal involvement. After the October 7th tragedy in Israel, the Hebrew Academy welcomed several families from Israel who arrived with their children to escape the turmoil and fear of the war. Thanks to a grant from Jewish Long Beach the Hebrew Academy was able to enroll the children and give them a peaceful environment. Our students who met them welcomed them and learned firsthand about their challenges in Israel and were able to empathize with them. After the recent fires that destroyed many homes outside Los Angeles recently, our students attended a Brit celebration on our campus of a newborn from a family that had to vacate their home and relocated to Long Beach. Again the students were able to learn firsthand about the devastation and the mitzvah of helping others. Of course this is an addition to the experiential value of theJewish traditions and mitzvot that the children study and practice every day.

The greatest aspiration of parents is to transmit their Jewish values to their children and beyond, as the saying goes, ‘Midor Lador’. For one night a year it happens at the Seder. But it is far more effective if it continues throughout the year with a strong partnership of home and Jewish school with experiential Judaism and especially through a Jewish Day School education. In a just released report by Prizmah, the data shows that “Jewish day school alumni consistently report stronger ties to their Jewish identity, a deeper connection to Israel, and greater participation in Jewish life.”

My wish this Passover is for families to continue the Seder experience year round through a Jewish Day School education and thus fulfill Midor Lador.

Happy Passover and Chag Sameach to all!