Are You Completely Lost at the Seder Table?

Does this situation sound all too familiar to you: You're sitting by the seder table but you feel empty. You may be keenly aware that this occasion is meant to be a deeply spiritual experience, a redemption from your personal enslavement to the Pharaoh within who wishes to hinder your journey to Mount Sinai, but the only thought occupying your mind is: "when are we finally gonna get to dig into the chicken soup and prime rib?" Across the table sits Cousin Moish who is positively ecstatic, totally entranced by the words of the Haggadah, and you feel totally clueless.

Before you despair of ever having a meaningful seder, take a moment to digest the following thought (a thought which is easier to digest than all that matzah and wine!):

Some 3300 years ago in Egypt, the Jews who sat around the seder tables were in exactly the same predicament as you find yourself right now!

It is safe to assume that the seder table in Egypt wasn’t overflowing with inspiring words of TorahPassover is a holiday of firsts. It is the first of the three festivals, and it is observed in Nissan, the first month of the year. In fact, Ezekiel describes the Exodus as the "birth" of the Jewish nation – the ultimate first. It is "the first" because beforehand we were a nation similar to all other nations. We were steeped in the depravity and immorality of the Egyptian culture, spiritually un-attuned, and certainly not worthy of the incredible miracles which accompanied the Exodus. Passover is a testament to G-d's remarkable kindness and His intense love for us, and it marks the very beginning of our spiritual journey.

It is safe to assume that the seder table in Egypt wasn't overflowing with inspiring words of Torah, instead the Jews sat around the table anticipating the miracle of Redemption which Moses promised would be coming their way that very night. They were not spiritual people, but they had a deep-seated faith in G-d, and a solid commitment to changing their lives, to embark on the spiritually arduous trek to receiving the Torah.

Jewish holidays are very different than their secular counterparts; they are not a commemoration of, but rather a reliving of an event. The same Divine revelation which triggered the miracles of Redemption in Egypt long ago is present every year on the night of Passover. We, too, can be redeemed although we are not worthy. We need only to emulate our ancestors, to foster our faith in the impending redemption and commit to changing ourselves as befits a member of G-d's chosen nation.

So remember, if you're feeling lost by the seder, that's exactly why you are sitting there!