tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579003483038593135.post1391302843406076860..comments2023-05-13T11:01:55.918-04:00Comments on frost and clouds: steal this sederJoshua Gutoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17731207066330434709noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579003483038593135.post-72892006581391218182009-04-02T17:37:00.000-04:002009-04-02T17:37:00.000-04:00Greetings, Josh. Michael Wolf here. I liked your p...Greetings, Josh. Michael Wolf here. I liked your post about Pesach. I agree with what you say, but want to add one slight variation. While no one has ever accused me of being a supporter of rabbis, in this case I think the dynamic is a bit more complicated than you describe. It isn't only that controlling rabbis try to get people to “do it right.” As a non-rabbi teacher, I have students – both adult and younger – constantly asking me what the “right” way is, whether I am teaching Bible or Hebrew or math, for that matter. I have come to accept that there is some impulse that makes us all ask about the “right” way to do various things. And when I tell people that there is no one right way, but there are many different ways, they tend to be disappointed. Just this morning some of my math students were annoyed that I kept discussing multiple ways of converting percents into fractions. They didn’t want to find the way that worked best for them. They wanted to be told what the “right” way was. They can live with the idea that they will fail the test or get a wrong answer more easily than they can live with the idea that there are lots of different ways and everybody should find the way that is best for them.<BR/>My point is that I think a similar dynamic also works around Jewish life in general and seder in particular. Hazal wanted dialogue, but amchah wanted to be sure they were doing it correctly! Yes there are obsessive/compulsive rabbi-types who nudge people, but there are at least as many ordinary Jews who just want to know what the trules are so they can get on with it.<BR/>All of which I find occasionally depressing – except for one thing. As arid and dull as many sedarim may be, Jews go through the ceremony anyway. There is something about Pesach that works for people, even if it isn’t the kind of dialogue and exploration that Hazal were trying to stimulate. So, yes, we need rabbis (or teachers) who don’t give in to the “This is the right way” syndrome.” But let’s not underestimate how hard it is to actually get that message across. As you note, “once you take it into your own hands you become responsible for its success” which is just plain hard for people, including you and me.<BR/>Hag sameach.Michael Wolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08103998014978076338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579003483038593135.post-7551133959758452012009-04-02T13:14:00.000-04:002009-04-02T13:14:00.000-04:00R. Josh: How would you like to collaborate on a Ha...R. Josh: How would you like to collaborate on a Haggadah project?<BR/><BR/>The title: the 104 Questions Haggadah.<BR/><BR/>I can send you my first draft of the 104 questions if you like, and we can discuss in shul.Noahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12945329316119532583noreply@blogger.com