Order?

You’re Out of Order

Al Pacino

With the current Middle East conflict spilling out of the region to produce disparate opinion, my task of conducting the 2024 Passover Seder, has emerged as a moment akin to walking blindfolded through a minefield. The freedom and deliverance holiday of Passover demands that something be said about the remaining Gazan Hostages. The plight of the hostages has been met with hostility; posters of them have been either destroyed or defaced. Further, there is the reality that there are many innocents who have suffered as a result of the conflict.

Given the diverse thinkers attending this year’s Seder who likely possess a diversity of faith and political opinion, discussing the elephant in the room will not be easy. In a time meant to relax, recline, and act in an orderly fashion, discord could erupt at the very onset.

The hostages’ plight irrefutably ties to Passover’s message of freedom and deliverance. Thoughts and wishes should go out to those remaining in captivity for six months plus.

Freedom and deliverance as a theme is best noted in one of the Hebrew Bible’s most famous lines. God says to Moses at the Burning Bush: “I’ve seen the degradation of my people who are in Egypt, and I’ve heard their wail on account of their taskmasters, because I know their pains. And I’ve come down to rescue them.” Exodus 3-7-8.

At this moment, before the Seder, I am as tongue-tied as Moses at the Burning Bush. This family bonding moment risk must be done with contemplation.

After much thought, I am going to rely upon an invited guest to win the moment. Every Passover Seder, we greet him with an open door, a serenade, and a glass of wine. He has never been on time and always expected to show up late. This guest, Elijah the Prophet, will be needed at this year’s Seder opening.

Elijah is the solution to my dilemma. He is the great uniter. Elijah was the Northern Kingdom Prophet so great that he became beloved by both Israelite nations. His showdown with Baal’s Prophets at Mt. Carmel in united Israelites. His zealousness for righteousness was literally too much for him to bare. He was the People’s Prophet. He confronted monarchical corruption at the risk of his life. In the end, he famously exited the planet on a flaming chariot.

Since his departure, Elijah’s legacy has continued to expand. He is the Seder guest. He attends Brit Milot, ritual circumcisions. He has become a mystical figure that injected into jewish psycheat. The book, Becoming Elijah by Daniel Matt explores this phenomena.

Thus, Elijah will be asked to come early to this year’s Passover Seder. In our troubled times, we simply cannot wait till the end of the Seder to open the door for Elijah. Order must be broken. Am early round of singing “Eliyahu Hanavi” will be used to set the tone.

In sum, perhaps the great uniter can take people to a moment to appreciate we are confronted with. With captive held underground and in secrecy, we are experiencing something that can neither see or hear. We should hope that the One who with the capacity to see and hear those suffering can rescue those in need.

Be well!!

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