Leon Sakkal

Yes, it’s that time of year again! As we clean out the cabinets, sweep the floors, and make all the necessary preparations for Pesach, it is important to remind ourselves of the many meaningfullessons and values we transmit to our children at this special time. 

“Let My People Go!” 

When finally agreeing to let the Jewish people leave Missrayim, Pharaoh instructs Moshe, “Go and serve Hashem, your Gd – butfirst, mi va’mi ha’holchim?” – “Just who will be leaving?” Moshe replies, 

“Bi’narenu u’bizkenenu nelech”— “With our young and our old we will go.” The question arises: why does Moshe mention the young before the old? It is no secret that we, as Jewish people, always give precedence to our elders. Why, then, the uncharacteristic choice of phrasing? 

The answer is one of the essential principles of Passover and of our Jewish tradition. 

Pharaoh agrees to let the Jewish People go, but before giving Moshe the absolute “green light,” he needs to know precisely who will be going. Men? Women? Children? For he fears Moshe will take his most significantmembers of Jewish people: the children. 

Well aware that Pharaoh fears the emancipation of the young, Moshe first stresses “bi’narenu” as if to say, “Indeed, we will be taking our young.” It is then that Pharaoh withdraws his sanction. 

The Evil Strategy 

Although this may shed light on Moshe’s choice of words, one cannot help but wonder: What is so significant about the Jewish children that Pharaoh does not want to let them go? 

In the Purim story, we find a similar interest taken by King Ahashverosh. There, the king throws a tremendous party, inviting everybody “mi’gadol ve’ad kattan” both great and small, young and old. But is it not strange? Surely most people would not want children running around a party of such magnificence and grandeur! And so again we wonder: Why the special interest in the little ones? 

On the night of Pesach we can truly understand the intention of Pharaoh, Ahashverosh, Adolf Hitler, and all of the wicked men who have tried so desperately to annihilate us.   

Throughout history, our enemies have realized that the key to both the construction and destruction of the Jewish people is largely dependent on their youth. “If we get the kids,” they muse, “the rest is history.”    

The frightening truth is that this tactic has not disappeared with time. Modern-day villains likewise prey on the innocence of the young. In fact, a recent study shows that more than 75 percent of ISIS and Al Qaeda terrorists recruited from the United States are teens!   

Both past and present tyrants understand that Jewish children are the lifeline of the Jewish faith, the future of our Holy Torah and traditions. Making it so that Jewish children are disconnected from our People would surely threaten the future of Am Yisrael. 

The Seder Night 

Perhaps it is more apropos to transmit our people’s ancient story on Succot, when we leave the comfort of our homes to reside in huts. Surely that is deserving of a “Mah Nishtana?” Yet, it is only on Pesach that we entice our children to ask questions, and teach them the story of our redemption. We are commanded, “Ve’higadeta le’bincha,” to tell our children. On the surface, the instruction seems fair and reasonable: Give the kids a nice lesson in Jewish history. This, of course, is incorrect.    

With the recital of the Haggadah we achieve far more than a mere history lesson. We ensure that those who seek our destruction donot have their way by infecting the pure minds of our youth. This is why we tell the age-old story of our exile and redemption from Egypt exclusively on Passover. 

Transmitting our Story  Understanding the wicked intention of Pharaoh can inspire us to have a more meaningful seder. Knowing that our own children are the target of all who seek our demise, we should do our best to transmit our heritage with pride. This seder night, enlighten your children regarding the gratitude they should feel – not only for being part of the Jewish nation, but for belonging to such a unified community. They are so fortunate to have such an extended family.

Is Yawning Contagious?

Absolutely! It’s one of the body’s most contagious, uncontrollable actions.

In fact, yawning is so contagious that seeing a picture of someone yawning can make you yawn. Not only that, but even reading or writing about yawning can make you yawn! (Are you yawning yet?)

Scientists continue to research the “contagious yawn” phenomenon, but they have yet to discover what exactly causes people to yawn simply because they see another person yawning.

One theory is that yawning may be an unspoken form of communication, and “contagious yawning” is related to empathy (the ability to recognize, understand, and share the feelings of others). People with higher levels of empathy yawn more often when someone else yawns, compared to people with lower levels of empathy or those with emotional disorders.

A recent study discovered that yawns are most contagious among close friends and family members. Apparently, the closer you are to someone genetically or emotionally, the more likely it is that you’ll “catch” his/her yawn. Research has also shown that children under the age of five, as well as older adults, are less likely to yawn in response to somebody else yawning.

What Exactly Is a Yawn?

Everybody yawns on a daily basis, from infants to great-grandparents and everyone in between. But, have you ever wondered what exactly is a yawn?

A yawn is a big intake of air. The mouth and jaw open wide. Through the mouth and nose, there’s a deep inhale, followed by a slow exhale. Sometimes, people close their eyes when they yawn; often they stretch their arms or legs, too. Although we yawn more often when we’re tired or bored, scientists have ruled out sleepiness or lack of oxygen (which would cause sleepiness) as causes for yawning. Then why, exactly, do people and animals yawn?Scientists still do not know for sure, but they do have a few theories.

Animals Yawn Too!

Did you know that dogs, cats, and other animals yawn, too? In fact, nearly all vertebrates, from fish to reptiles to primates, yawn. What’s even more amazing is that research has proven that yawning is contagious among some animals as well. Examples include dogs, chimpanzees, and bonobos. Experiments have shown that dogs will even yawn after a person yawns!

Ellen Geller Kamaras

Our February issue featured an article about the ancient Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue in Damascus, Syria. Since Assad’s departure, Jews are now allowed to visit the site once again.

Mr. Murad (Mordechai) Guindi, a member of Congregation Shaare Zion, read the article in CommunityMagazine and asked to share his personal story about another ancient synagogue, the Beit Knesset Hagadol, the Great Synagogue, in Kniss Kibereh in Aleppo.  This synagogue is where the Aleppo codex was housed for over 500 years until it was removed during the 1947 Aleppo Pogrom. Murad actively led the rebuilding of this shul beginning in 1976.

I had the honor of meeting Mr. Guindi and Mr. Albert (Avraham) Zarif, a Jewish studies teacher in Syria, who was the baal koreh at the Kniss Kibereh Shul in 1976.  Murad, a successful businessman and devoted member of the community, shared accounts and pictures of the shul’s history and of his life in Aleppo. His dedication to the Great Synagogue, his descriptions of the discrimination and anti-Semitism in Syria, and his struggle to move his family to America and help other Syrian Jews to leave, were truly moving. 

Using false Muslim passports, Mr. Zarif escaped from Syria in August 1981 with his wife and two young daughters.  They stopped in Paris for six months and then made their way to New York.  Albert has been a teacher at Magen David Yeshivah since his arrival in the US and is also a hazan and baal koreh at Congregation Shaare Zion.

A Little History

Let’s add some context to the Great Synagogue’s history and the difficult environment for the Jewish community in Aleppo in the 20^th century. 

According to Murad, the shul was built in the 9^th century BCE by Joab ben Zeruiah, the nephew of King David and general of his armies.  Also known as the Central Synagogue of Aleppo, it was situated in the old part of the city in the Jewish Quarter.

Syria gained independence from France in April 1946 and the new Syrian government began its persecution of Jewish residents.  Akiva Feinstein, the Haganah‘s illegal immigration operative, reported  that the Syrian government fired all Jewish clerks employed by the French bureaucracy and attempted to suppress all Jewish businesses. 

Murads personal narratives confirmed the oppressive economic and civil situation in Syria in the fifties, sixties, and seventies.

Reverberations of the UN Vote

In 1947 there were 10,000 Jews (dating back 2,000 years) in Aleppo at the time of the UN Resolution 181 vote that called for the partition of the British mandate into a Jewish and Arab state.

In 1947, following the UN vote,  the Great Synagogue was set on fire during the Aleppo Pogrom and was mostly destroyed.  Mobs attacked and destroyed shuls, five schools, an orphanage and a youth club, and Jewish stores. Many houses were burned and destroyed. 

In 1948, Egypt, Syria, and Iraq took Jewish property and imposed large fines on their Jewish communities.

Exile of Jews from Aleppo

Fifty percent of Aleppo’s Jewish population left after the Aleppo riots.  Most of the remaining Jews emigrated to other countries when Assad allowed the Jews to leave Syria in 1992.

After the second wave of immigration of 1992, no Jews remained in Aleppo.  Only nine Jews are left in Damascus. Most are older men, who are led by Bakhour Chamntoub, 74.  

Henry Guindi, Murad’s father, owned a profitable sporting goods store that was looted and destroyed in 1947.  Miraculously, he found money that was hidden in a tennis ball container inside the store. He determined who the money belonged to and contacted the owner, promising to keep the funds safe for him. 

Discrimination Reminiscent of WWII Germany

Murad also shared that Jews were not permitted to hold a license to drive a car.  He was able to obtain a motorcycle license at the age of 18.  However, he was not allowed to wear a helmet, as those were reserved for policemen.  At one point, his license was confiscated by the police per the instructions of the Minister of Interior.  Murad found out that his license was taken because a Damascus Jew had forged his license papers.  Mr. Totach, chief of the Jewish Community in Damascus, introduced Murad to the Muchabarad, similar to the FBI, and helped him get his license back.  When Murad went to the government building to retrieve his license, it was in a file six inches thick, containing information about the Guindi family.

All Jewish identification cards were stamped in red to indicate the holders were Jewish, reminiscent of the Nazi’s treatment of Jews in Germany and other countries.

The Revival of the Great Synagogue

During the 1970s, very few of the remaining Jews in Aleppo lived near the Great Synagogue. Most of the Jewish community, including Murad and his family, lived in the newer part of Djamilieh.  In 1976, he was approached by his friend Albert Zarif, who was discouraged about the situation at the shul. Although he walked to the Great Synagogue to read the Sefer Torah every Shabbat, only four or five men were showing up, not enough for a minyan.

Murad asked Albert to go to shul the next day and he committed to bringing a minyan for Shabbat.  He succeeded in getting ten men for a minyan that Shabbat.  After the shul was repaired and expanded within the next two years, sixty percent of the community members started to follow Murad to this old part of the city every Shabbat. 

Another surprise was that instead of the usual donation for an aliyah l’ Torah of one Syrian pound, the ten men donated a total of 600 pounds – more than was usually collected for hagim.  With the increase in attendance, more space was needed, as they had been praying in a very small room. Murad started to repair the left side of the shul with the contributions he received.

At the time the Syrian government did not permit Jews to do business. So, Murad had to be creative in getting the shul rebuilt. He enlisted Christian and Muslin businessmen to file the paperwork on behalf of the Jews.  Murad hired a Muslim architect, Sadik Mufti, to assist him with the documentation needed to rebuild the Great Synagogue.

There were no restrooms in the shul, which necessitated the use of a neighbor’s bathroom.   A new entrance for the shul and a restroom with sinks and toilets were constructed.  The windows  and the teivah where the Sefer Torah was kept were repaired.  The Aleppo Museum staff helped Murad repair the teivah.  Murad’s brother Raymond had drawn a sketch of a beautiful menorah for the shul.  Murad hired a designer to create a metal menorah from the drawing and it was placed prominently in the shul.

The Keter Torah went missing in 1947 when the synagogue was set on fire.  Some say that the Mr. Murad Faham took the Keter to Israel.

The Israeli government issued a beautiful stamp of the Great Synagogue in 1987.  The picture on the stamp was from the Byzantine period.

Murad recently heard that there were three layers of tombs discovered ten feet underground below the Great Synagogue.

Tombs were also found below the ancient Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue in Damascus.

The Gindi’s Life in Aleppo

After his sporting goods store was looted in 1947, Henry Gindi (you will remember he was Murad’s father) created a wholesale business with the help of his friends Ezra Cohen and Zion Betesh, who moved to Lebanon in 1949.  Henry earned commissions on this venture until 1956. In 1956, Murad joined his father.

Murad married his wife Linda in 1962. That year he opened a variety store in the Aleppo business district. The Guindi family was fortunate to have these businesses as most of the Jewish community was poor. The Jews relied on contributions sent from the United Jewish Appeal (UJA).

Linda and Murad’s six children were born in Aleppo, four boys and two girls.  The youngest was born in 1971.

Murad’s Journey to Meet Stephen Shalom

With the help of Mr. Totach, Murad was able to visit the U.S. in 1975. He brought his mother with him for two months. The two of them wanted to see Murad’s brother who was there. The Syrian embassy in the US extended Murad’s and his mother’s visas from two to four months. Murad persevered to meet with Sephardic Jewish community leader and philanthropist Mr. Stephen Shalom, zt”l, to enlist his help to save Syrian Jewry.

Mr. Shalom’s father had immigrated from Aleppo to the US and after he was settled, he sent generous amounts of money to help Jews in Syria. Stephen Shalom was born in Brooklyn. He championed the cause of freedom for Syrian Jewry and served in key roles at major Jewish organizations.

Mr. Shalom said his proudest achievement was working with NYS Democratic Representative Stephen Solarz, with the blessing of President Jimmy Carter, in 1977 to bring Jewish Syrian women who wanted to marry within their faith to America.

Murad was invited to meet Mr. Shalom in Manhattan at the Israel Discount Bank.  But Murad feared for his life if the Syrian government back home were to learn  he had met someone at an Israeli bank. Murad attempted to see Mr. Shalom at the SITT Shul on Ocean Parkway but was unsuccessful.  Murad decided to take the risk and he met with Mr. Shalom at the Israel Discount Bank. In a three-hour meeting Mr. Shalom asked Murad how they could get Jews out of Syria. Murad replied if he knew how, he would have gotten his family out. Mr. Shalom was impressed by Murad’s command of English and by his accomplishments and his advocacy for Syrian Jews.

Mr. Shalom took Murad to UJA’s office to discuss the stipends being sent to Syrian Jewry in Aleppo and Damascus.  Murad succeeded in pushing for an increase to the stipends.

Further Travels

In 1976, Murad obtained a passport to go to China for business.  He was the only Syrian Jew to go to China.  He went to China once from Syria and once from the US.

Murad returned to the U.S. in 1977.

Murad also spoke about his brother Joseph, who, after being severely beaten on his way home from school when he was 13, escaped to Lebanon.  He remained in Lebanon from 1955 until 1967.  Another  brother of Murad’s and Joseph’s, Victor, escaped to Lebanon as well.  Victor, his  wife Nadia, his brother Raymond, and his sister Esther stayed in Lebanon with Nadia’s family.  Ninety Jews who managed to flee Syria hid in a shul in Lebanon until they were aided by non-Jewish Lebanese residents who helped them to escape to France and then to Israel. 

Murad was arrested in the seventies on the border of Lebanon when he attempted to leave Syria. He was tortured and was kept in prison for six months.

Mr. Totach, Jewish Community Chief, was able to get permission for Mr. Shalom and his uncle Bert Shabbot to visit Murad in Aleppo.

In a picture of Murad with Mr. Shalom during his 1976 visit to Aleppo, there is also a Syrian man, Zaki Shayo, who was imprisoned with another Jew from 1966 to 1967.  No one had a clue where these men were. Murad worked to secure their return, contacting Red Cross officials and even writing to UN Secretary General U Thant in the early seventies.  He never received a response from. U Thant.  BH, Mr. Zaki was released in 1977.

Yellow Journalism

In 1975,American journalistMike Wallace of the popular CBS program “60 Minutes,” came to Damascus and visited Jewish schools, businesses, and shuls.   Wallace insisted on meeting Murad then, but Murad refused even after the Muchabarad had authorized it.  He claimed he was too busy.  Murad did agree to be interviewed by another reporter, Tito Howard, from the UK.  The Muchabarad was present for that filming.

Murad agreed to meet Wallace in New York later in 1975.  Wallace asked Murad to say positive things about the Syrian government, but he could not. 

In 2006, CAMERA, Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reportingand Analysis, reported that in 1975 and 1984, Wallace filed reports on Syria that minimized the oppression of Syrian Jews and obscured the dictatorial nature of Assad’s regime. 

The Guindi Family Reunited

Murad went to the U.S. seven times. On the sixth visit, in 1981, he succeeded in bringing his wife and three oldest sons to New York.  He then returned to Syria to work on getting out the three youngest children, aged 9, 13, and 15.

Due to long delays, Linda went back to Syria to be with the children. Murad visited the Lubavitcher Rebbe to get a beracha to bring his family to America.  He still has the dollar bill that the Rebbe gave him.

It took three attempts to smuggle his wife and young children out of Syria and into Israel through Turkey. The family was reunited in New York by December 1982, a Hanukah miracle.

Murad’s parents came to the U.S. in 1984.

Is it safe for Jews to travel to Syria?

Sarina Rofee, President of the Sephardic Heritage Project and Chair of the JewishGen Sephardic Research Division said, “I do not believe it is safe for Jews to travel to Syria. The nation is filled with civil unrest and [now has] an unstable government. Civil rights are still in question. The Syrian Jewish collective memory of life there from 1948 until 1994 was filled with hardship, persecution, and lack of civil liberties. There was no government protection from the constant harassment by Arabs. With a constant state of war with Israel, Jews in particular are not safe in Syria.” Some are very interested in retrieving treasures left in Syria. Sarina said, “I have complete trust that Israel will retrieve any religious artifacts or documents found in the synagogues.”

I am grateful to Mr. Guindi and Mr. Zarif for sharing their personal stories.  Thanks to people like them, the Syrian Jewish heritage continues to thrive. Both men have provided testimonies to Sephardic organizations and museums.

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Ellen Geller Kamaras, CPA/MBA, is an International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach.   She can be contacted at ellen@lifecoachellen.com (www.lifecoachellen.com).

Dave Gordon

This past February, six living hostages and the bodies of four Israeli hostages were exchanged for more than 1,100 Palestinian prisoners. One of them is presumed to be Palestinian Khalil Jabarin, who was seventeen in September 2018 when he stabbed and killed a 45-year-old American oleh from New York, Ari Fuld.

Ari’s brother Hillel, 46, said, “Truth is, I think we [our family] all had in the back of our heads that this was a possibility, but I don’t think any of us wanted to face that, so, it’s definitely a punch to the gut.”

An Undoing of Justice

For Hillel Fuld and  Micah Lakin Avni (Micah Hebraicized his last name), who lost his father, Richard Lakin, to a Hamas attack, there is a personal cost to negotiating with terrorists, particularly through prisoner exchange deals – one that reopens wounds, and creates a feeling that justice has been undermined.

They are caught weighing the moral scales between the desire to minimize the suffering of hostages, yet at the price of releasing individuals who may commit further atrocities, thereby undermining long-term security and rewarding terrorism.

Ari Fuld’s killer, Jabarin, came up from behind him on the sidewalk of Harim Mall at the Gush Etzion Junction, just south of Jerusalem, He stabbed Ari in the neck. Ari summoned the energy to chase down his killer, jump over a wall, and shoot him. Jabarin was stopped from attacking Hila Peretz, who only minutes before had served him a falafel from her stand.

“This kid lacked nothing in life,” Hillel Fuld said of Jabarin. “He was not oppressed; he was not occupied. He was living a free life.”

Jabarin, while serving a life sentence in prison, was paid by the Palestinian Authority’s pay-to-slay program, according to Fuld.

At least 59 hostages are still believed held by Hamas. Approximately 200 of those abducted on Oct. 7th have been returned, some alive, others not.

Ari Fuld’s Take on Things

“If Ari were here today, he would be unequivocally against this deal. He spoke about it multiple times, this kind of concept,” said Fuld. “I don’t think our personal tragedy or pain caused by the fact that he’s getting out changes our opinion on the deal, which is that the deal is absolutely terrible and beautiful simultaneously, right?”

Ari had completed his army service. but still volunteered in the IDF. He became leader of his platoon, while also advocating for Israel on social media and at speaking engagements. “Ari was more than an IDF soldier. He was also a staunch, vocal advocate for Israel,” Hillel said, “He spent his days going from base to base, bringing soldiers ice cream and food, just to put a smile on their face.”

On November 7, 2018, the Israel Police posthumously awarded Ari Fuld the Medal of Distinction.

Is Israel Winning the War?

“I think objectively speaking, what Israel has accomplished in this war is unparalleled and unprecedented,” Fuld said, which includes the elimination of the bulk of Hamas and Hezbollah, the Iranian military apparatus, and Syrian defenses.

“And so I don’t think there’s anyone who could say that Israel is not winning this war. The objectives have been very well defined, to remove Hamas from Gaza and from power, and to get our hostages back, neither of which have been accomplished. You can’t say that the war is over and we won the war. We’re in the middle of the war, and it’s a ceasefire,” Hillel said. But he is confident those goals will be reached.

“Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, [the] Babylonians – we don’t have any of these empires. They’re all gone. And Israel, the people of Israel, remain, and not only do we remain, but we are strong and we are resilient. And so that will be the case with this war. I don’t know how often we actually stop and think about the events that led to our holidays. At Purim, the leader of the world agreed to annihilate the Jews. Do we often stop and think that that was near genocide of the Jewish people? And the same thing for Hanukah and for Passover. So today that will be the case again. We will dance again.”

Prisoner Deals Evoke Mixed Emotions

Despite personal anguish over prisoner releases, both Fuld and Avni acknowledge the mixed emotions of needing to release hostages, at an impossibly high cost.

“I don’t think there’s a single person in Israel who wouldn’t do anything on a personal level to get hostages back. But on the other hand, strategically, it makes no sense to my mind to be letting prisoners out. It shows weakness,” Avni said.

Avni’s fatherwas killed by Hamas member Bilal Abu Ganem, part of the duo who killed three Israeli civilians and injured 15, in a bus attack in Oct. 2015. Abu Ganem was due to be freed in a recent prisoner exchange.

Richard Lakin’s Story

Born in the U.S., Lakin marched with Martin Luther King, and was an activist that helped desegregate schools in Connecticut. He was the principal at Hopewell Elementary School from 1969 until he moved with his family to Israel in 1984. He built an English-as-a-second-language school, teaching Jewish, Christian, and Arab children.

“It was a matter of principle for him. He thought that was the way to bring people together,” said his son.

Lakin was on the way home from a doctor’s appointment in Jerusalem, when there was a wave of Palestinian stabbings. Rather than risk being exposed to an attack on the walk home, he decided to take the bus. Two Hamas terrorists boarded, shooting Lakin and two other civilians, and injuring another 15 people.  

During the terror stabbing spree, police killed one of the attackers on the spot. The second, Abu Ganem, was brought to Hadassah Hospital, together with Lakin. Although the terrorist survived, Lakin, 76, did not.

Indoctrination to Terror

Two days after the attack, Hamas released a re-enactment video, said Avni. “They had actors get on a bus and ‘shoot’ another actor who was playing my father, and one playing a terrorist. They put it out to educate young children how to do terror attacks like that. And it got tens of millions of views,” said Avni.

 “An entire generation of kids grew up watching these movies all day long. Now they’re indoctrinated. It’s a culture of terror and death from kindergarten, summer camps, elementary schools, in high schools, in universities, anywhere children spend time.”

Abu Ganem, a resident of East Jerusalem who held an Israeli residency card, was tried in the District Court in Jerusalem, and sentenced to three life sentences. “He admitted to it, and there was no question that he and the other were both members of Hamas. He expressed zero remorse for what he had done,” said Avni.

A History of Prisoner Exchanges

Avni recalls the first time he expressed how adamantly he was against lopsided hostage deals.

Right after his family moved to Israel, a major prisoner exchange deal took place in May 1985, called the Jibril Agreement. “I remember telling my mother at the time – I was just about to enlist in the army – that if I ever get taken prisoner, don’t exchange any terrorists for me. It’s clear that they’re just going to come back and murder more people.”

The Jibril deal took place between the Israeli government and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command. Israel released 1,150 prisoners. In return, Israel received three prisoners captured during the First Lebanon War: Yosef Grof, Nissim Salem, and Hezi Shai.

The deal included the release of several high-profile prisoners including Ahmed Yassin, a Gazan Muslim Brotherhood leader who later became the spiritual leader of Hamas and Ziyad al-Nakhalah, who was serving a life sentence and later became the leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

It set a precedent for future exchanges, including the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange in 2011, where 1,027 Palestinian and Israeli Arab prisoners were released in exchange for one IDF soldier.

Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre, was released as part of the Shalit exchange. Avni saw this as epitomizing a long line of wrongful thinking amongst Israelis and the country’s elites.

Terrorists Do Not Play by Western rules

Avni said that in the past four decades, he watched Israeli leadership “become enamored with being accepted in the West, in a similar way that I watched lots of my Jewish friends in America trying to play both sides.Hamas are “like the Nazis, pure evil and sometimes it’s hard for the Western mind to grasp this.”

“But there is no reasoning with these people,” Avni said, referring to terrorists. “There is no negotiation. Their end goal is to destroy us, to destroy Israel, and for most of them, to take over the West, as well. So that’s ideological. You have to destroy them before they destroy you.” In the time he ran a finance business with thousands of clients across the Arab world, he noticed that their culture respected strength, and “abused weakness,” and he believes the time has come for Israel and her allies to be “strong handed with terrorists.”

The text that we read at the Pesach seder, as we all know, is commonly referred to as the Haggadah. What is the origin of this term, and what exactly does it mean?

One simple answer, perhaps, is that this word stems from the Biblical origin of the obligation of sippur Yetziat Mitzrayim – telling the story of the Exodus on the night of the seder.  The Torah introduces this obligation in the Book of Shemot (13:8) with the words, “Vehigadeta levincha bayom hahu…” (“You shall tell your son on that day…”).  The word Haggadah means “telling,” and is the noun form of the verb “vehigadeta,” and this might be why we refer to the text of the seder with this word.

However, the Maharal of Prague (1512-1609), one of the great giants of Jewish thought, offered a deeper explanation, one which goes to the heart of the essential nature of the seder experience.

Too Much Praise?

The Maharal begins by drawing our attention to a story told in the Gemara (Berachot 33b) of a hazzan who, we might say, went a bit too far.  He stood up in front of the congregation and began singing Gd’s praises, using as many adjectives as He could to describe Gd’s unparalleled greatness.  He exclaimed, “HaKel hagadol hagibor vehanora veha’adir veha’izuz vehayar’ui hehazak veha’amitz vehavadai vehanichbad…” 

When he finally finished extolling Gd’s might and power, Rabbi Hanina turned to him and sarcastically asked, “You completed all of your Master’s praises?!” 

By using so many descriptions to express Gd’s greatness, the hazzan implicitly conveyed the message that this is all there is to say, that he successfully exhausted all the praise that could be said about Gd.

Rabbi Hanina explained that when we give praise to Gd in the shemonah esreh prayer, we are to describe Him simply as “HaKel hagadol hagibor vehanora – The great, mighty, awesome Gd.”  We are permitted to use these three adjectives only because Moshe Rabbenu used them in describing Gd (Devarim 10:17).  In principle, it should be forbidden to praise Gd with any adjectives, because this would imply a limit to Gd’s praises.  But since Moshe praised Gd with these three adjectives, we are allowed to, as well.  Any additional praises, however, are improper.  When it comes to praising Gd, more is less.  As Gd is infinite, and His greatness and power are infinite, we must avoid giving the impression of comprehensively expressing His might.

The Maharal notes that when it comes to the Pesach seder, we are to follow the opposite policy.  Toward the beginning of the maggid section, when we discuss the basics of the sippur Yetziat Mitzrayim obligation, we announce: “Vechol hamarbeh lesaper biytziat Mitzrayim hareh zeh meshubah” – the more one speaks about the miracles of the Exodus on the night of the seder, the more praiseworthy he is.  The text of the Haggadah is not all that we can or should say at the seder.  We are encouraged to extend well beyond this text, and spend as much time as reasonably possible describing the wonders and miracles of Yetziat Mitzrayim.  To illustrate this point, the Haggadah tells the story of the five great sages who joined together in Bnei-Brak for the seder, and spent the entire night discussing the Exodus.  They stopped only when their students entered to inform them that morning had arrived and it was time to read the morning shema.

Whereas we are normally discouraged from speaking at length of Gd’s praises, at the seder, we are specifically encouraged to devote as much time and attention as we can to discussing the miracles of Yetziat Mitzrayim.  Why?

The Jews’ “Thanksgiving Dinner”

The Maharal explains by drawing a critical distinction between praise and gratitude.  When it comes to praising Gd, describing His greatness, more is less.  As Rabbi Hanina said, expressing praise gives the mistaken – and in fact heretical – impression that His power and capabilities can be quantified, and accurately expressed through the spoken word.  But when it comes to expressing gratitude, the guiding principle is “kol hamarbeh hareh zeh meshubah” – more is more.  We can never say “thank you” enough for the blessings we have received.

The Pesach seder, the Maharal writes, is less about praise than about gratitude.  The idea of the seder is not to give Hashem praise for the miracles of the Exodus, but rather to express our gratitude for them.

As we know, halachah requires reciting a special berachah –birkat hagomel – upon emerging from any of four situations of danger: captivity, illness, desert travel, and a sea voyage.  Our ancestors who left Egypt experienced all four situations.  They were held captive as slaves, unable to leave; they were beaten and tortured, thus becoming dangerously frail; and after leaving, they crossed the sea and the desert.  Now in the times of the Bet Hamikdash, a person who emerged from one of these situations would bring a special sacrifice called the korban todah – the thanksgiving offering.  The Pesach seder, which, when the Mikdash stood, was centered around the special pesach sacrifice – could thus be seen as a korban todah – or, what we might call the Jewish version of a “thanksgiving dinner.”  Indeed, some commentators suggested that the four cups of wine that we drink at the seder correspond to the four deliverances listed above.  The entire seder revolves around the notion of todah – expressing gratitude to Gd.  And for this reason, “kol hamarbeh hareh zeh meshubah” – the more the better.

The Pesach Seder&Bikkurim

This theme comes into sharper focus when we examine more closely the heart of the maggid section. 

After a number of introductory paragraphs, in which we present some basic information about the mitzvah to speak of the Exodus on this night, we proceed to perform this mitzvah, which we do by analyzing four verses in the Book of Devarim (26:5-8).  This series of verses (which begins, “Arami oved avi vayered Mitzrayema…”) is taken from a declaration known as mikra bikkurim, which a farmer would recite when he brought his first fruits (bikkurim) to the Bet Hamikdash each year.  After presenting his first fruits to a kohen, he would made this pronouncement briefly recounting the story of his ancestors’ enslavement in Egypt, and ultimate miraculous redemption.  At the seder, we go through this brief text, one phrase at a time, and analyze it based on earlier verses in the Torah.  At first glance, we might wonder why this specific text was chosen for the purpose of telling the story of the Exodus.  Why do we study these verses, instead of simply reading the actual narrative of the Yetziat Mitzrayim story, which is told in the Book of Shemot?  Why was the mikra bikkurim proclamation deemed the most suitable text for the seder?

The answer is found in an earlier verse regarding the procedure of bikkurim.  The Torah (Devarim 26:3) commands that when the farmer arrives at the Mikdash with his first fruits, he should say to the kohen, “Higadeti hayom l’Hashem Elokecha.”  The Aramaic Targum Yonatan Ben Uziel translation renders this to mean, “I give thanks on this day to Hashem your Gd.”  And Rashi, commenting on this verse, writes that the person says this to the kohen to avow that he is “not ungrateful.”  The bikkurim obligation is all about gratitude, expressing to Gd one’s appreciation for the new fruits that he successfully produced, acknowledging the journey his people have undergone from the depths of Egyptian bondage to the heights of prosperity in their homeland.

Appropriately, then, this is the text chosen for our “thanksgiving dinner,” our Pesach seder, which is all about expressing our gratitude to Hashem for all He has done for us.

In light of all this, the Maharal answers our original question, of why we refer to the text recited at the seder with the term “Haggadah.”  The word “higadeti,” as we saw, denotes expressing gratitude.  As this constitutes the primary theme of the seder, it is fitting that we refer to the text read on this evening as the “Haggadah,” the text through which we express our gratitude to the Almighty.

The More the Better

In closing, let us all honestly compare the amount of time we spend complaining with the amount of time we spend giving thanks. Many of us, I’m afraid, are guilty of expressing dissatisfaction more frequently and more passionately than we express satisfaction and gratitude.  Whether it’s toward Gd, toward our world, or toward the people around us, many of us have lots of criticism and complaints, but precious few words of appreciation.  This common tendency is detrimental to our own emotional wellbeing, and also creates an aura of negativity which is destructive to our relationships, to our environment, and even to our souls.

One of the lessons we can take from the seder experience is that “kol hamarbeh hareh zeh meshubah” – we can never say “thank you” enough.  Gratitude should not be reserved for rare moments or special occasions; it should be a constant presence in our lives.  Feeling and expressing gratitude elevates us, strengthens our relationships, and brings us and those around us a sense of joy and fulfillment.  By accustoming ourselves to see the good in the world, to appreciate the kindness of others, and to recognize the countless hidden gifts we receive each day, we live joyfully and contentedly.  A grateful heart is a happy heart, and those who make gratitude a habit will find themselves leading richer, more meaningful lives.

May we all strive to increase our expressions of thanks – not just in moments of joy, but as a daily practice, shaping the way we interact with others and how we view our own lives.  Because when it comes to gratitude, more is truly more.

Michele Shrem

We all have many recipes that we make every week. Some people I know never veer off that path, and others, like myself, are always looking for a new dish. But, with many women working in today’s world, it has been harder and harder to find recipes that are easy to shop for, very easy and quick to cook, and yet also look beautiful on the table.

There are so many recipes to be found on the internet, or passed along through friends, but it would be great to have them readily available for the coming weeks for use during special meals with the upcoming holidays approaching soon.

The recipes below all have ingredients that can be found in local supermarkets as well as in our community specialty grocery stores. They are all very easy to put together, and they all make a wonderful presentation for a Shabbat table that you can be proud of showing off to your family, friends, and guests. Some of these recipes can even be used for Passover.

Crock Pot Brisket

From Sofia Sutton

Ingredients:

• brisket
• 1 large onion
• Goodman’s onion soup mix – 1 envelope

Instructions:

• Add water about half way up in the crockpot.
• Place a crock pot liner (bag) over the water. I don’t like the Reynold’s brand liner, since it has ripped on me in the past, and then the water is able to enter the food.
• Slice one onion into rounds, and place on the bottom of the bag.
• Wash the brisket, add salt and pepper to taste, and lay it flat directly onto the onions.
• Add one cup of water and one packet of Goodman’s onion soup mix to the top of the brisket.
• Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
• This is so easy, especially in the summer months, when you don’t want to cook a roast or brisket in your oven.

Mongolian Beef

From Nathan Rudy

I make this recipe often, since it’s a family favorite. It’s a classic Chinese restaurant item, and it’s always my first choice. There are a few different ways to adjust this recipe as well, so check the notes section.

Ingredients:

• 2 lb. beef tenderloin/beef chuck, cut into strips
• 1/2 tsp of meat tenderizer
• 1/2 cup cornstarch/corn flour
• oil, for deep frying

For the Sauce:

• 2 tbsp cooking oil
• 1 tbsp finely chopped ginger
• 1 tbsp finely chopped garlic
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup rice vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp hoisin sauce (optional)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cornstarch, diluted in 3 tsp water
• 1 tsp red chili flakes (optional)
• 1/2 cup green onion, chopped into 1-inch pieces

Instructions:

• Start off by tossing the beef strips in cornstarch mixed with meat tenderizer. Make sure the strips are coated evenly. Allow it to sit for 10-20 minutes to get to room temperature.
• Deep fry the beef strips for 4-5 mins, drain the oil, and set aside.
• In a saucepan, heat oil on high heat setting. Quickly add in the ginger and garlic.
• Stir quickly for 10 seconds. Immediately add in the soy sauce, water,rice vinegar, and hoisin sauce. Bring the sauce to a quick boil.
• Add in the brown sugar and cornstarch and mix thoroughly.
• Now add in the beef strips and let cook for 2 minutes.
• Add the green onions and cook for an additional minute.
• Serve hot with rice.

Notes:

• To make this recipe spicy, I add 1 to 2 tsp of red chili flakes.
• You don’t need to marinate the beef beforehand in this recipe, unlike the
• other recipes for Mongolian beef. It’s the quickest and most delicious way of making it!
• Add an additional teaspoon of corn flour/cornstarch diluted in two teaspoons of water if you want it to be slightly thicker and stickier.

Rosemary London Broil

From Shiri Zimmerman

Ingredients:

• 2.5 lbs. of London broil

Marinade:

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• ½ cup honey
• ½ cup low sodium soy sauce
• 6 cloves garlic, crushed (can use the frozen squares)
• 1 tbsp dried rosemary
• Salt
• Black pepper

Instructions:

• Score both sides of the London broil in 2 directions, making diamond shapes in the meat.
• Mix marinade ingredients together and place meat & marinade in a gallon size Ziploc bag.
• Marinate for 2 to 24 hours.
• Preheat oven to Broil. Take meat out of the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. Remove meat from marinade and broil on both sides for 10-15 minutes, for medium rare meat. (It will cook more if re-warming lateron.)
• Baste meat with marinade while cooking and discard the rest of the marinade. Can also grill meat on barbecue.
• Slice meat thinly against the grain and enjoy!

Chicken with Caramelized Onions& Chestnuts

From Guila Sakkal

Ingredients:

• 7-8 onions, thinly sliced into crescents
• 1 bunch parsley, chopped (fresh or frozen)
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tsp turmeric
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2-3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2-3 tbsp Silan (date syrup)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2-3 packages chestnuts
• 1 whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces (skin-on, bone-in)

Instructions:

• In a large pan, sauté 7-8 sliced onions over medium heat until translucent.
• Add paprika, turmeric, salt, pepper, bunch of chopped parsley (or 5-6 cubes frozen), 2-3 tbsp of soy sauce, 2-3 tbsp of Silan, and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Stir well and continue cooking until the onions caramelize and have a nice golden color. (Add a little water to caramelize.)
• Mix in 2-3 packs of chestnuts, coating them with the onion mixture.
• Add the chicken pieces, turning to coat them fully in the sauce.
• Cover and cook on low to medium heat for about 2 hours, allowing the chicken to release its own liquid.
• Avoid stirring – gently shake the pan or spoon sauce over the chicken as needed. The sauce should thicken up.
• Cook until most of the liquid has reduced and the chicken is tender.

Chicken & Peppers

From Michele Shrem

Ingredients:

• 4 lb. of boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 3 peppers, one red, one yellow, and one orange
• 2 onions
• Hawaage (or, you can use soup spice)
• Salt, pepper

Instructions:

• Cut the onions and peppers into slim slices and add hawaage, salt, and pepper.
• Sauté the onions and peppers in olive oil, and then line them on the bottom of a casserole.
• Then, spice and sauté the chicken pieces on each side until browned.
• Layer the chicken on top of the onions and peppers and re-spice again. Add a little water.
• Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until done, about 30 minutes or so. Cover after 15 minutes.

Roasted Lamb (can use roast or shoulder)

From Guila Sakkal

Ingredients:

• Lamb roast
• Fresh garlic
• 2 oranges
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• Salt, pepper
• Garlic powder and cumin

Instructions:

• Sear lamb roast on a hot pan (only if using roast, not shoulder).
• Make slits with a knife in the lamb and stuff fresh garlic SLICES (I make 10-12 slits) into the slits.
• In a cup mix juice of 2 oranges, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cumin.
• Add mixture to the lamb and marinate in a cooking bag overnight.
• Cook for 2-3 hours in the bag at 350 degrees. Poke a small hole on top so bag doesn’t explode.
• Once cool, slice up and arrange in Pyrex with sauce.
• For a side dish – serve with jasmine rice with ground beef.

Jasmine Rice with Ground Beef

Ingredients:

• Chopped Meat
• 1 onion
• Salt, pepper, and cinnamon
• Roasted, slivered almonds

Instructions:

• Sauté 1 chopped onion and 1lb of chopped meat.
• Cook until cooked through, and add 2 tbsp of water.
• Season with salt and pepper, and a dash of cinnamon.
• Add cooked rice and mix well.
• Sprinkle roasted slivered almonds on top when ready to serve.

Easy Baked Chicken and Eggplant

Rachel Mizrahi

Ingredients:

• 2 medium eggplants, sliced into ½-inch rounds
• 1 package boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• ¼ cup olive oil, divided
• 1 ½ tsp kosher salt, divided
• 1 tsp garlic powder, divided
• ½ teaspoon allspice
• Freshly ground black pepper (optional)

Instructions:

Prepare the eggplant:

• Lay the eggplant slices on a paper towel-lined surface and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon kosher salt.
• Let them sit for 15 minutes to draw out excess moisture. Pat dry with paper towels.

Roast the eggplant:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit..
• Arrange the eggplant slices on a baking sheet and drizzle with 2 tbsp of olive oil.
• Sprinkle with ½ tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp garlic powder, and allspice. Toss to coat evenly.
• Bake for 20 minutes until tender and lightly golden.
• Season the chicken:
• In a bowl, toss the chicken thighs with the remaining 2 tbsp of olive oil, ½ tsp kosher salt, and ½ tsp garlic powder.
• Assemble and bake:
• In a roasting dish, arrange a layer of roasted eggplant slices.
• Place the seasoned chicken thighs on top, then cover with another layer of eggplant. Drizzle with a little olive oil.
• Cover the dish with foil and bake for 1 hour.
• Crisp the top (optional):
• Uncover the dish and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until the top is golden and slightly crispy.

Serve:

Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy on its own or with rice.

Stuffed Eggplant and Chicken

Yola Haber

Ingredients:

• Eggplant
• Oil for sautéing
• Chicken
• Chopped meat
• Rice
• Allspice, cinnamon

Instructions:

• Slice eggplant, sauté it, and then add to the bottom of a roasting pan.
• Make stuffed eggplant  and add it to the top of the sautéed eggplant.
• Spice chicken with your choice of spices, and layer it on top of the stuffed eggplant.  Cook slowly on low until golden.

Yemenite Soup

Michele Shrem

Ingredients:

• 2-3 lb. of flanken on the bone
• 3-5 potatoes (preferably Yukon gold)
• 2-3 onions
• Hawaage and salt
• Schug

Instructions:

• Fill a pot with water, add the flanken, and bring to a boil.
• Cut the potatoes up, and the onions into halves.
• Once the water with flanken comes to a boil, take a large spoon and remove the fat from the top.
• Then add the potatoes, onions, salt, and 2 heaping tbsp of hawaage.
• Simmer for one hour.
• Serve with fresh lemon and schug. Goes great with Syrian/pita bread.

Note:

You can add carrots and/or celery, although I prefer not adding.

For Passover, you can crush up matzah to add to the soup. The Yemenite soup recipe is very special to me. I got the recipe from my mother who made it for my father, may he rest in peace. The recipe was passed down through the generations, and is a family favorite. My father once admitted to me that I made it even better than my mom, and it was as good, or better than, my grandmother’s recipe. It does not have any color, or cilantro, as many of the recipes contain. However, I promise you will love it, and it is so easy to make, too! I hope you will try all of these recipes and keep me posted!

Yehudit Gindi

You never believed you would make it to the finish line, but here you are, and you’re pretty sure you aren’t dreaming. As you behold the dining room table adorned with your Pesach finest, you realize that you have overcome what once seemed to be a near-impossible feat. After weeks of backbreaking labor, you can relate to those who have climbed to the peak of Everest, for seder night has finally arrived.

At the seder, each person is supposed to feel as if they were redeemed from the harsh slavery of Egypt. For the woman, whose raw hands are a testament to all the sweeping, spraying, sautéing, and scrubbing that she has been up to, this is no problem.  Just as the Jewish people witnessed Hashem’s miracles during the redemption, the Jewish wife and mother experiences Hashem’s miraculous hand in her Pesach preparations each year. So don’t fret. When you find yourself knee-deep in the pre-Pesach pandemonium, rest assured that with the help of these tips, and of course with the ever-present help of Gd, your seder will be spectacular.

Get It All Together

We’ve mentioned it in these pages before, but it is so crucial that it bears repeating: make a list of all the things that you will need on the seder table. Without a written list, the to-dos will be just a big mumbo-jumbo in your mind that will create loads of unnecessary pressure. So put pen to paper and you’ll be off to a successful start. 

Kadesh, Urhatz…

What if you can’t seem to remember exactly what the seder calls for? Well, here’s one way to refresh your memory. When making your “Things for the seder” list, you can either go to Google, or you can take out a Pesach Haggadah. While taking extreme caution to keep it far away from any food, sift through the pages. You’ll probably find a picture of the seder plate and all the significant foods to display, as well as the order of the seder. As you notice items you will need, write them down. (Some key items to remember: haroset, the shank bone, hardboiled eggs, and celery, just to name a few!)

Shulhan Orech

Once all your kosher-for-Pesach dishes have been dusted, washed and dried, you can begin setting your seder table. You’ll want to do this hours before the seder begins so you’re able to walk into the main event relaxed and prepared. An elegant white or ivory tablecloth makes for a stunning backdrop; just be sure to cover it with plastic, since you can expect several grapejuice spills. Rhinestone napkin rings are eye-catching accents, and they will complement all types of silverware. Complete the décor with a nice floral centerpiece, and your table is ready.

So the Children Should Ask

The purpose of the seder is to pique the children’s curiosity so they’ll ask questions and give you the opportunity to fulfill the mitzvah of telling about the Jewish nation’s redemption from Egypt. So, to prevent the kids from falling asleep on top of their marror-filled matzah sandwiches, make the seder kid friendly!  Have incentives ready for children who ask great questions or say the Mah Nishtanah. Bring the Pesach story to life by investing in some bright, colorful Haggadot so the children can follow along. And don’t forget some prizes for he or she who discovers the afikoman!  Before you know it, it will be 2am and your children will be awake singing the “Had Gadya” finale with gusto!

Getting Some Zzz’s…

Speaking of staying awake until 2am, which is likely to happen on seder night, it is a must for your children to take a nap pre-seder. You know how it goes: the kids will resist, but you must insist! This way, the children will be well-rested and ready for loads of fun and learning come seder time. Oh, and moms are allowed to take naps, too! So if you can manage to find even a half-hour, try to squeeze in even a short catnap. The seder is a magnificent time, but putting it all together can sometimes seem like an arduous journey. But you’ll be there soon enough, and you can pat yourself on the back knowing it’s the culmination of all your hard work. When you finally sit down and see the smiling faces of family and guests surrounding you, you’ll know that the hours of effort were well worth it.