The Passover message of freedom from an Egyptian tyrant couldn’t be more timely, said a Denver rabbi, whose Seder message will relate the ancient Exodus to current Middle East rebellions against despots.
“A lot of young people are looking around there and asking: ‘Is this all I can achieve?’ ” said Rabbi Levi Brackman of Judaism in the Foothills.
American youths, whose opportunities seem virtually unlimited, should be doing the same, he said.
“Egypt hadn’t seen true freedom and democracy for thousands of years, since the Jews fought Pharaoh,” Brackman said. “The parallels are immense.”
Passover’s theme is even more poignant in light of recent events, Brackman said, and it will be explored in depth at this year’s Seders for his Evergreen congregation of more than 150 families. Seder is the ritual meal that begins Passover.
Many in Jewish communities feared that deposing Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak would create a less secure situation for Israel — possibly opening the door to an Islamist state hostile to Jews. Brackman said he shares those concerns about what the new government will look like, but couldn’t help rooting for protesters clamoring for freedom.
“We celebrate our freedom every single year with Passover,” he said. “Jews have it in their DNA — this concept of freedom of expression, freedom to worship your own God. DNA isn’t really the right word because this concept has to be carefully taught to each generation.”
At Passover, Jews relive their enslavement in Egypt by eating bitter herbs and the unleavened bread matzo, Brackman said, and then they relive their victory over enslavement.
Judaism in the Foothills in Evergreen, 3959 Ponderosa Lane, will hold two Seders this year. The traditional Seder Tuesday, the second night of Passover, will begin around sunset, 8:15 p.m., and end before midnight. The Seder will feature meditations and teachings on the concept of personal freedom.
Tonight’s Seder, the first night of Passover, is designed for young children and the elderly, starting and ending early, 6:30-9:30 p.m., with dinner followed by reading of the Haggadah, the traditional story of the Exodus from Egypt. Children will have their own “Kiddie Seder,” Brackman said. Both Seders will involve interactive discussions.
If people don’t fully and actively preserve this concept of personal freedom they can be enslaved in other ways, even in America, Brackman said.
Individuals must guard against subtle forms of enslavement, which are more hidden and dangerous, and just as effective in preventing authentic self-expression. He said examples include cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all educational systems as well as societal pressures to pursue wages rather than passions.
“We lump together kids instead of looking at each one and asking, ‘Who are you?’ ” said Brackman, who is also director of an Aurora-based nonprofit program called Youth Directions. It pairs at-risk youth with mentors in the area to help them find their purpose.
“Once you give kids the permission to follow their own interests, it’s a powerful freedom,” he said.
Electa Draper: 303-954-1276 or edraper@denverpost.com
