Rabbi Marc D. Rudolph

Passover is a time of new beginnings. The egg which we place on our seder plates represents the cycle of life and the chance for a new beginning. The parsley represents Spring. One of the names of Passover is “Chag Ha-aviv” — the Festival of Spring. Spring is also a time of renewal. The Talmud tells us that on Passover the Jewish People were redeemed, and on Passover they will be redeemed again. This teaches us that on each and every Passover we have an opportunity for personal redemption, for liberation from those qualities that constrict us — envy, hatred, apathy, hypocrisy, arrogance, dishonesty, stubbornness and the like. Freeing ourselves from these negative personality traits can be the first step to a new and more rewarding life.

The first step in beginning anew is to recognize our mistakes. In ancient Israel, people recognized and atoned for their mistakes by bringing sacrifices to the Temple in Jerusalem. As the Torah makes clear, everyone, in every stratum of society, is capable of making a mistake. There is a specific sacrifice for a priest who makes a mistake; A different sacrifice for a chieftain who makes a mistake; Yet another for a common citizen who makes a mistake. There is even a sacrifice prescribed for an entire community that makes a mistake. The Book of Leviticus teaches us that honest mistakes are a part of life. Bringing a sacrifice is the way ancient Israelites were forgiven for their mistakes and could begin their lives anew.

The Russian composer Igor Stravinsky once said, “I have learned throughout my life as a composer chiefly through my mistakes and pursuits of false assumptions, not by my exposure to founts of wisdom and knowledge.”  We need not fear making mistakes – as long, that is, as we can recognize them,  rectify  them, and don’t keep making the same mistake over and over. Too many people refuse to recognize that they have made a mistake, and, out of stubborn pride, compound their missteps or slip ups  and make it worse.

As the Torah teaches us  in innumerable   verses on   the subject of atonement that mistakes are an ever-present part of our lives.  Without taking the risk to make a mistake, we would all likely  stay  stuck in the exact same place in our lives,  avoiding  venturing beyond our comfort level,  scarcely ever moving beyond what we had already mastered,  hardly learning new things,  feeling  frozen in what we know that works. 

Yet another name for Passover is “Zman Cherutainu” — “The Time of our Liberation”. May we grow from misfortune and disappointment to hope and renewal. Every mistake has a blessing hidden inside of it. The question is – can we recognize the mistake, and seize the blessing?

Wishing you a sweet and meaningful Passover.

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