In just a few days Jewish families around the world will recount the story of the Exodus from Egypt. At the center of the Haggadah, Passover’s universal guidebook, is the raising of the wine glasses in recognition of G-d’s promise to Abraham to redeem the Jews from Egypt, a promise that endures through every generation and drives one of the clearest miracles of our time – the survival of the Jewish people. After the glasses are lowered, the – Haggadah text then traces the survival miracle from its emergence in the time of Laban, the Aramean, Jacob’s father-in-law.
Laban?! Would we ever have thought that Laban was a serious threat to Jewish survival? Laban is known as the notorious swindler for his unabashed deception of Jacob, but how was he among Judaism’s greatest enemies? More troubling is what we read next: “Pharoah’s decree was only on the males, but Laban sought to uproot everything.†Our rescue from Laban’s hands was more compelling than the Exodus from Egypt!
When my first child was born I was struck by how vulnerable, and clueless, a little baby is. Do babies know when they’re about to slip off the couch onto the hard floor, or the tragic results, G-d forbid, of not being harnessed into a carseat? They have absolutely no concept of the constant threats they face.
Laban’s threat to Jewish survival is surprisingly unclear, but therein lies its eternal significance. Somehow, Jacob and his family were at risk of total annihilation, and behind the scenes was the Al-mighty protecting His children. If it were not written in the Torah, we would have been clueless. G-d’s quiet protection testifies to His eternal love, and serves as a most appropriate introduction to the account of the Exodus and recognition of the miracle of Jewish survival. (Based on the Vilna Gaon)
On a more personal level, we are like the helpless infant – truly vulnerable. Maybe you can remember many near-misses you’ve experienced, but how many near-misses did you not even know about? Was there ever a time you discovered how G-d was quietly protecting you? At the Passover Seder we’re reminded to recognize these daily miracles and express our endless gratitude. Let’s raise our glasses to that!
Happy Passover!
Rabbi Mordechai Dixler
Program Director, Project Genesis – Torah.org
Many many times, I have protected by the keeper of the Hedge. I praise Him for the seen, the unseen, and the ‘to be seen’. Happy Passover!
Happy Pesach!
Chag Pesach Sameach, all!!
To all who visit, read or comment at this site, Happy Passover (Yom Tov).
Those who remember and celebrate their past, have an avoidance propensity from it happening again.
A reminder to celebrate what we must never forget…. and to share it with those we love.
Happy Passover
Happy Passover!
Chag Pesach Sameach: It is such joy for me to have been through several blessed life events that I know my guardian angel protected me. Two times I have been shot at and missed. Once I was kidnapped by a rapist he stole my car with me in it and I woke up with a head injury but I fought him and got away with miraculous assistance. Other minor but just as meaningful to me events have happened but learning to love HaShem with Joy always has healed my life of PTSD.
I am grateful to my Almighty Father for His watchful care over me, and thank you, Rabbi Dixler for your timely reminder. Happy Passover to you and yours.
Nowadays it is difficult to accept the idea that God is a protector of deserving or undeserving individuals; This is particularly difficult for me, an undeserving Holocaust survivor.
Very timely. Last May, I was involved in an auto accident due t0 a momentary blackout. Fortunately, I was not seriously injured. However, a young lady was knocking on my window motioning for me to get out of the car. I nodded ok though still dazed. She asked me if I was ok and I nodded affirmitively. She then asked me to go with her to her car and rest a few moments which I did. Though I was there just for just a few moments when my car exploded in a huge flame. Had it not been for her, I would have been toast now. Hashem had to be looking after me. Bernie
Happy Passover to everybody – what astonishing and terefying miracles happen then – and after that all
Nation of Israel, came out of Egipt, after that , miracles did not stop, during all this centuries until now…