Seize the Moment
I credit this d'var Torah to thoughts shared by Rabbi Ezra Cohen of Lower Merion Synagogue on the first day of Passover.
It is said that all MIT students need sleep, work, and play, but only have enough time for two of those three. Time is an essential aspect of the MIT experience, and its prioritization is vital for a successful experience. Time is also essential for Passover, which we are now in the middle of celebrating.
We read in the Hagaddah towards the end of the Maggid section, “Rabban Gamliel used to say: anyone who doesn’t say these three things on Passover has not fulfilled his/her duty [of the seder], namely: Pesach (the paschal offering), matza (unleavened bread), and maror (bitter herbs).” These are the three essential elements of telling the story of Passover, of experiencing Passover. Indeed, just a short while later, during Korech, these three elements came together in the Hillel sandwich. (Today, we eat only the matza and maror, the paschal lamb first requiring our Temple be rebuilt.) All three elements are connected to time.
We’ll start with the easiest one: matza. For matza to be kosher, it must be made in a short period of time (18 minutes). Allowing it to sit longer invalidates its fitness for Passover. Idle time spoils the lot.
The paschal lamb is also very closely tied to time. In describing the law in Deuteronomy, the Torah states (16:4), “...none of the meat of that which you slaughtered at the first night (the paschal lamb) shall remain in the morning.” Indeed, any meat which is not finished must be burnt and destroyed (similar to how we destroy chametz).
Maror’s connection to time is a bit less clear, but the lesson is there as well. Many people choose to use a green leaf, such as romaine lettuce as their bitter herb. The reason for this is described in the Jerusalem Talmud (as cited in the Shirat Miriam Hagaddah by Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon): “at first lettuce is sweet and after it has grown it becomes bitter…That is what the Egyptians did to our forefathers: at first they dealt with them sweetly, but afterwards they embittered their lives.” We eat lettuce because with time it becomes bitter. If we pick it early, it is sweet and tender; if we wait, it is a bitter snack.
Pesach, matza, and maror. Three essential elements of our Passover experience, unified by their connection to time. When we take decisive action and finish the task, we have the freedom we celebrate. When we are indecisive, we become slaves to our indecision. Let this message of Passover inspire us to take the actions necessary to move our lives forward and bring us the redemptions for which we aspire.
Chag sameach,
