hunger on the verge - sole...
TRANSCRIPT
THE JEWISH CHRONICLE APRIL 14, 2016 — 33
Name: Kenny Ross Automotive GroupWidth: 5.041"Depth: 3.25"Color: BlackComment: Display on SimchaAd Number: 10020826
Name: Food for ThoughtWidth: 5.041"Depth: 1.5"Color: BlackComment: DisplayAd Number: 10019191
Name: David Sanchez - LUV YOUR TECHWidth: 5.041"Depth: 1.5"Color: BlackComment: -Ad Number: -
Learn to Love Your Technology• Big PictureUnderstand, prepare andorganize all the ways inwhich your technologycan serve your needs.
• TroubleshootingBecome comfortable inidentifying and solvingeveryday functionalproblems.
• Sync and OrganizePasswords, IDs, updates,photos, music, emaildocuments and more.Get streamlined andcontrol.
• Create & shareStart doing the thingsyou always wanted to dowith confidence.
Dave Sanchez, Your Personal [email protected] 412.225.7900 www.luvyourtech.com
Food
Thoughtfor
• Catering for any occassion• Shiva trays • Party trays and more• Offsite Kosher Catering (in approved synagogues)
• Call ahead for curbside service• 24 Hr. answering service
412.682.5033 • 194 North Craig Street • Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Deli & Catering Co.
TORAHCELEBRATIONS
B’nai MitzvahDrew Levy, son of Debbie and Phil Levy of Upper St. Clair, will become a barmitzvah on Saturday, April 16 at Temple Emanuel of South Hills. Drew is the grand-son of Arlene and Ken Eskind of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., the late AlanSchwartzberg of Lauderdale by the Sea, Fla., and Malvina Levy and the late SeymourLevy of Monroeville.
Marni Zinger, daughter of RobinFingeret-Zinger and Craig Zinger, willbecome a bat mitzvah on Saturday, April16 at Beth El Congregation of the SouthHills. Grandparents are Rhonda Fingeretand the late Gerald (Jerry) Fingeret ofPittsburgh and Delray Beach, Fla., thelate Silvia and Carl Cataio of Pittsburghand the late Ralph and Eleanor Zinger ofPhiladelphia.
Hunger on the verge
Toward the beginning of the Passoverseder, we raise the matzahs and say, “Halachma anya — This the is bread of …”what? Is it the bread of affliction or thebread of poverty that our ancestors atein the land of Egypt?Perhaps it is both. As slaves, we were
afflicted, and we were poor.But while the Torah describes the
cruelty of our enslavement, it doesn’tmention, yet, what the Israelites ate. Thefirst narrative reference to matzohappears as we are leaving Egypt in such
haste that the bread dough hasn’t hadtime to rise and is baked unleavened.Yes, we are poor, but the affliction hasjust transformed from slave labor tohomeless wandering.If anything, the food we ate as slaves in
Egypt was tasty and plentiful. Numbers11:5 mentions fish, cucumbers, melons,leeks, onions and garlic — and it wasfree! But now we remember our tormentand misery and even invite all who arehungry to share our poor food.Of course, at the seder we are eating in
comfort, even leaning on pillows, andpreparing to enjoy a feast even as weshare the bread of poverty. That bread isthere to remind us that it was not alwaysthus, and even now it is not so for many.Poverty is an ever-present condition. In
our country and in the world, there aremany who lack nutritious food and cleanwater. There are dictators whose policiesstarve their citizens, depriving them notonly of bodily sustenance, but also ofadequate medical care, education andthe opportunity for dignified work.Even here in Pittsburgh, there are
“food deserts,” whose inhabitants haveto expend extra time and labor to buyand bring home nutritious food becausethey have no conveniently locatedgrocery stores. Crime flourishes in thesame neighborhoods whose streets awaitthe repairs that come promptly to moreaffluent areas.
At the seder table, we share the experi-ence of those whose basic human needsare not satisfied. We share their hurt andshould be inspired to turn anew to thenurture of those who are in want.Despite the tasty fish and fruit of Egypt,we remember what it feels like to bepoor.So too do we remember what it feels
like to be afflicted. Our homeless wan-dering after Egypt translates today tobeing refugees. Nor was it very long agothat so many of us Jews were refugeesfrom most of Europe and from manycountries in the Middle East and NorthAfrica. And we are witnesses today to yetanother overwhelming refugee crisis.All over the world, people suffer
oppression and hunger for justice. In ourown country, we continue to struggle forfairness, equity, dignity and mutualrespect. Slavery still exists among us inagriculture, in sectors of the serviceindustry and in sex trafficking.
At the seder table, we share the pain ofthose who suffer injustice as individualsand in groups, and we should be inspiredto let our concern radiate from ourcircles of family and friends to all whoare oppressed.The seder is one of the rituals most
observed by American Jews. Perhaps,this is because the underlying story is ofGod attending to our needs, needs weexperience both individually and alltogether. We hunger for the basics offood, nurture and justice — for ourselvesand for others. Reminding ourselves thatwe share the bread of poverty and afflic-tion brings us closer to God.But this sharing gains enduring
meaning only if we rededicate ourselvesto the needs of those who don’t have suf-ficient opportunity and means to livedignified and fulfilling lives. When wesay, “Next year in Jerusalem,” we arepraying for the end of poverty and afflic-tion for all.May next Pesach see us very much
closer to our goals for the world and forourselves; may we be blessed to partici-pate in the fulfillment of our most cher-ished hopes.Shabbat shalom!
Rabbi Paul Tuchman is the spiritualleader of Temple B’nai Israel. Thiscolumn is a service of the GreaterPittsburgh Rabbinic Association.
BY RABBI
PAUL TUCHMAN
Parshat MetzoraLeviticus 14:1-15:33
Shabbat Hagadol
e seder is one of the rituals most observed byAmerican Jews. Perhaps, this is because the underlying story is of God attending
to our needs, needs we experience both individually and all together.
We hunger for the basics of food, nurture andjustice — for ourselves and for others.
Reminding ourselves that we share the bread ofpoverty and affliction brings us closer to God.
IT’S amazing WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR.
�Visit thejewishchronicle.net to place a classified ad.
Chag Sameach
From our family to yours, we wish you a joyous festival.
724-864-5100 • KennyRoss-Subaru.com