April 2009 Message
by Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro

For Your Consideration
Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro

Mah nishtana – What makes this year different? It seems obvious. Everything is different. In many ways it feels as if the ground has shifted under our feet. A cloud of uncertainty about the future and our financial security hangs over us all.

Towards the middle of March, I was thinking these somber thoughts when the words of the Four Questions came to mind.

Mah nishtana – What makes this night different? I’ve said those words hundreds of times since I was a child. They just never hit me as strongly as they do this year because this year it does feel as if so many aspects of life are in flux. We are all worried that this year is much, much too different from other years.

Or is it?

Maybe, when we step back and think about it, we can see that this year and this Passover in particular are really not that different. Smaller retirement portfolios, yes. Concern about budgets, yes.

But, when it comes to Passover, the blessing is that the holiday hasn’t changed! Your Haggadah should have the same wine stains as last year. Matzah will crackle and crumble when you bite it this year. Your friends and family will probably love (and even aggravate) you much as they did last year. Children will be older. You will look older too.

But the great truth is that, in spite of everything outside that chips away at our confidence, our most precious assets on the inside are intact. We’ve got friends and family grown over many years. We’ve got people with whom we can celebrate, laugh, cry, complain, and sing no matter what concerns the outside world presents.

Mah nishtana – What makes this year different?

A lot makes this year different, but even more remains the same. What remains the same is what really matters: traditions, poetry, song, hope, faith, and people. Have a very good Passover. You deserve it.

Prior Bulletin Messages from the Rabbi are available on this site.