Passover Seder: Why ask why?

(Einstein in 1939)

Albert Einstein was imbued with the “holy curiosity” that he spoke so highly of.  He is often identified with this quote:  The important thing is not to stop questioning.  Curiosity has its own reason for existing.  One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality…

Questions are an integral part of the Passover Seder.  Jewfaq.org reports that the Maggid (a portion of the Seder that occurs before the main meal is eaten) begins with “the youngest person asking The Four Questions.”  These questions are introduced with a generic “Why is this night different from all other nights?”  The following four components of a Seder (the very term Seder denotes a certain order to the proceedings) are then specifically

inquired about: eating matzah instead of bread; eating bitter vegetables; dipping vegetables twice; and reclining rather than sitting.

These questions are not just meant to be informational.  Quite often, everyone at the table already knows the answers.  Then why ask why (especially when a delicious meal is begging to be eaten)?

Harkening back to Einstein (whose family Wikipedia describes as “non-observant Jews”), these questions have to do with “holy curiosity.”  Chabad.org offers this explanation:  On Passover we celebrate our freedom from slavery.  A slave is allowed no independent will, no opinion, and cannot question authority or voice his thoughts.  With freedom the Jewish nation was given the possibility to ask, to question…  Only by probing what Judaism is, asking and seeking more, can one become free from his or her current state, and reach a higher spiritual level.  

Resources

http://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/1483424/jewish/Why-Ask-the-Four-Questions-on-Passover.htm

http://www.jewfaq.org/seder.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein

Copyright April 6, 2012 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved