Passover 2024: the 5th question

The preamble to the Four Questions in the seder, “Why is this night different?”, seems not enough for framing the conversation at the table in these troubled times.

We ask the same Four Questions each year.

This year, the four questions seem wanting.
This year, the differences on this night are over-whelming.
This year, we have more questions than answers.

This year, it’s time for a Fifth Question.

Here are some questions I’m thinking about:

about the hostages

• What can I do to advocate for the hostages?
• How can I sustain my advocacy effort while remaining resilient?
• What costs should be borne to redeem the captives?

about Israel

• What is our role as American Jews to help the State of Israel manage through this extraordinary set of tragedies, for the benefit of the Jewish people and its ideals?
• Are there silver linings in the ongoing nightmare? (see David Horovitz)
• Can we imagine a New Gaza, where Palestinians have freedom from despotic rulers and can live in thriving society at peace with Israel? (see Bill Ackman and Israel Policy Forum)

about the US

• Does freedom thrive if we don’t fight for it? (see Bari Weiss)
• How do we extinguish the fire of anti-semitism unleashed by Oct 7?

about Jewry

• Must we “fight for the right to be Jewish”? (see Steven Spielberg)

I hope these example 5th questions inspire you to write your own or use one of them to make your seder meaningful.

For my other Passover posts this year and from prior years, see my Passover blog.