Kos Zikaron - The Cup of Remembrance

When I was growing up, I used to love seders at my grandparents' home. The best years were those when the table was so long, filled with so many aunts and uncles and cousins and friends that it took what felt like hours to pass the maror dipped in charoset around the table. And I always sat in the same place, year after year. It was a place of special honour. I always sat right next to my Zaidie, on his left, right by the head of the table. And every year, when we came to this part of the Haggadah, the part where the rabbis were debating whether it was 10 or 50 or 200 or 250 plagues, my Zaidie would finish reading the passage in his Russian-accented Hebrew, slam down his hand on the table, and yell, "Buba meises!" "It is nonsense," he would exclaim. "The Toyrah," (which is how he pronounced it) "said that there were only 10 plagues, and that's all there were!"

Now, many decades later, whenever I come to this part of the seder with the rabbis debating 10 or 50 or 200, I remember my Zaidie with love. I remember his clear, uncompromising sense of right and wrong. I remember his sense of humour. And I remember the love and devotion he felt towards our entire family as he surveyed the long and very full table. I remember my Bubie, and her chicken soup and gefilte fish and apple strudel that she made especially for me. And I remember... I remember all those who are with us now only in spirit, in the memories of Pesachs past that we celebrated together.

In the centre of the table there is one additional Kos, one additional cup, Kos Zikaron, the Cup of Remembrance. Let us pause now to remember those who are not with us in body, but very much with us in spirit. Let us invite their love to our Pesach table, and may we continue to be inspired by their memory throughout the year ahead.

The Plague of Covid in 2020

The ten plagues of ancient Egypt were brought down by Hashem because Pharoah hardened his heart and would not release the Israelites from their slavery. Many times he was warned, cajoled, admonished, and generally appealed to, but to no avail. Pharoah simply would not listen.

Today, we are facing a worldwide plague - the pandemic of Covid-19. Those who are believers would say that this plague, like those of ancient times - was brought by Hashem, perhaps deliberately to coincide with Pesach. But even if you are not a believer, you have to admit that the timing of this plague and its devastating effects on individuals and communities throughout the world is pretty coincidental.

There is perhaps another way to consider this modern plague. Those with faith, when faced with bad events will always say, " Gam zu l'tova " - this is also for the good. This is not to minimize the suffering of those afflicted, or the mourning of countless families who have and will lose loved ones. It is not to diminish the economic loss for millions of people around the world, nor what we will yet face in the coming economic depression that will rival, or even exceed, that of the 1930s.

But yet, potentially, gam zu l'tova. Much of what has been plaguing the modern world has either stopped or at least has settled down for a while. The air in cities everywhere is now breathable again. People are learning to value time with friends, acquaintences, neighbours, and relatives. Families are spending time with each other, no longer distracted by lessons and practices and social events and fear-of-missing-out. We are learning to prepare food, share recipes, bake bread, be heightenedly aware of what we waste because of our awareness of possible shortages. For decades, despite the warnings, cajolings, admonishments, and general appeals to become more aware of our environment, our families and friends, our relationships... we simply would not listen.

Gam zu l'tova . When we emerge from the hoshech mitzrayim  - the profound darkness - of this modern-day plague, if we understand and take the lessons of our isolations to heart, we have the opportunity to recreate community, society, and a renewed way-of-life in a way that honours what Hashem desires us to be. As we recall the 10 plagues of ancient times, may Hashem keep us all safe and healthy, grant complete and speedy healing to those who are and will yet be battling this disease, and enable us to apply the lessons of these times for the betterment of us all.