Passover and Leadership
a
Seder Supplement
Every Passover,
Jews around the world gather to learn the
story of the Exodus. Although it is a story about a specific people
and a specific time, people around the world have been inspired by
the idea that people can stand up to injustice, overcome oppression, and become a free people.
“The Jewish people, ever since
David slew Goliath, have never
considered youth as a barrier
to leadership.”
– President John F. Kennedy, 1960
In this guide, you will find two stories about people who played
important roles in the Exodus story. Each of these people showed
leadership by having a firm moral compass and courageously
standing up for what is right. At your Seder this year, share these
stories with your guests and discuss what they mean and how
these stories might challenge and inspire us to take action to stand
up for what is right in our own time.
Story: THE MIDWIVES
In this story, we learn about the cruelty of a powerful leader – Pharaoh. But we also learn that people of conscience can stand up and
resist unjust laws. Small acts of resistance and heroism by everyday people can have a huge impact.
“The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives- the first was named Shifra and the second was
named Puah- and he said: ‘When you deliver the Hebrew women, and you see them on the birthing
stone, if it is a son, you shall kill it, and if it is a girl, she shall live.’ But the midwives feared God
and they did not do as the king of Egypt spoke to them, and they allowed the boys to live.
The king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said: ‘Why have you done this thing, that you
have allowed the boys to live?’
The midwives said to Pharoah: ‘Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian
women, for they are extremely vigorous, and before the midwife can arrive, they have
already given birth!’“
– (Exodus 1:15-19)
Discussion:
» Why did the midwives act in the way they did?
» What leadership qualities do the midwives display?
» When is it acceptable, and the right thing to do, to show leadership by breaking the law? When is it not acceptable?
» Some commentaries add that midwives would go and bring water and food to houses of the poor women, indicating that it
wasn’t enough that they resisted doing the wrong thing, but that it was important that they actively did good. Which do you
think is more important?
The leaders pictured above stood up to powerful forces to fight for what is right. Left to right: Martin Luther King, protester in Tiananmen Square, China, Eli Weisel, and Nelson Mandela.
Story: MOSES
Moses may have been one of the babies that the midwives saved, and the story tells us he was later raised by Pharoah’s daughter. This
story is the first time that we learn about Moses acting out against the Israelite’s oppression, and may be a turning point in the story.
When Moses was grown up, he went out to his kinsmen, and looked on their burdens; and he saw
an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his kinsmen. He turned this way and that and, seeing that
there was no person about, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
– (Exodus 2:1-12)
Discussion:
» What do you think motivates Moshe to act the way he does?
» What qualities does Moshe demonstrate here?
» Do you think Moshe did the right thing? Why or why not?
Think about the story in light of the following teaching from the Rabbinic Sage Hillel:
In a place where there are no people, strive to be a person.
– (Mishnah, Pirkei Avot, 2:5)
In Hillel’s teaching, “person” means not just any person, but a person of moral courage.
A person who STANDS UP and does the right thing.
Discussion:
» What do you see that is wrong in the world?
» What do you Stand Up for?
» For what cause are you willing to be a person?”
There are no shortages of challenges facing our world. Pictured above: factories spewing pollution, Iran’s accelerating nuclear program, devastation in Haiti, poverty in America.
Standing Up for Haiti:
Haiti, already one of the poorest countries in the world, scarred by a long history of colonialism, exploitation, and oppression, was ill
equipped to sustain a 7.0 earthquake. Since the January 12th earthquake, the BBYO worldwide Jewish teen movement has mobilized in solidarity with the people of Haiti.
We see it as a Jewish and moral obligation to act, in the words of the Torah,
Lo Ta’amod al Dam Rei’echa – do not stand by while your neighbor bleeds
– (Leviticus 19)
.
Although Haiti is no longer the lead story on the news, its needs will be ongoing for years. This Passover, we encourage the Jewish
community to redouble its commitment to help. Some first steps include:
» Raising money for disaster relief.
Some great organizations include:
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee www.jdc.org. $10 text donation: JDCHAITI to 85944 or
American Jewish World Service www.ajws.org $10 text donation: AJWS to 25383.
» Reaching out to Haitians in your local community. There are over 400,000 Haitians living in the United States. Be a good
neighbor in this time of tragedy and reach out.
» Advocating for US Government relief aid. Urge your local Member of Congress or Senator to take a leadership stand on this
issue.
Join the group on Facebook. Stay on top of the latest developments by joining the Facebook Group
“Support the Victims of the Haiti Earthquake!”