“There’s no such thing as society. There are individual men and women and there are families.” – Margaret Thatcher
Before we discuss the Four Questions, before re-living the bitter persecution, or trying to taste the newfound freedom of our ancestors, before praying for a rebuilt Jerusalem in time for the next year’s holiday, and before reciting a crash course in Jewish history to our children, we do one thing.
The Passover seder begins with a call to all who are hungry to come and share in the meal.
No matter whether one is rich, poor, or middle class, part of the seder is to ensure all others have the ability to join.
For governments, and for communities, that’s the goal.
Each government, and every community goes about it differently. Some focus on the governmental angle, while others look more to community. Some – and this is often the case today – look to partner the two, with communities acting as force multipliers to government, and government enabling communities to reach out even more.
But whichever path, let’s remember we are united on that goal: that everyone is welcomed and cared for.
Words to consider. Ideas to ponder. Politics, and Pesach.
By Howie Beigelman
Howie Beigelman, formerly of Springfield, NJ, is executive director of Ohio Jewish Communities. He works at the intersection of Jewish communal service and nonprofit advocacy. Follow him on Twitter @howielb.
