"We are closer to G-d when we are asking the questions, than when we think we have the answers" Heschel

Monday, March 29, 2010

One final FNQ seder thought

I saw this idea in the Haggadah entitled, "Exalted evening" which is a compilation of the ideas of Rav Soloveitchik on the seder night.  After reading it I couldn't resist sharing since it is so relevant to some of the thoughts I have written since starting this blog.

On page 28-29 of the the Haggadah in the final paragraph on the page the Rav writes (it is written in his name). "The form of narration in the Haggadah avails itself of dialogue: one person asks and another responds.  It is necessary to dramatize this narration because G-d reveals himself to man if and when the latter searches for him.  If one does not inquire, if one expects God will reveal Himself without making an all-out effort to find Him, one will never meet G-d.  "But from there you will seek the lord and you shall find Him, if you search after Him with all your heart and all you soul" (Deut 4:29).
   Nachmanidies, in his comments on the verse "His habitation you shall seek and there you shall come" (Deut 12:5), says: "You should come to Me from distant lands, and you should keep inquiring where is the road leading to G-d's habitation."  The searching for the sanctuary, the curiosity to know the location of the sanctuary, is itself redeeming and sanctifying!  The curiosity hallows the pilgrimage and makes it meaningful.  If one does not search for G-d, if a Jew does not keep in mind where is the road leading to the Temple, the he or she will never find the temple.
    On the first night of Pesach, we tell the story of a long search by man for G-d, of G-d responding to the inquisitive search, of G-d taking man, who longs for him into His embrace.  At the Seder, we try to stimulate the naive curiosity of the children and thereby make them G-d searchers.  The quest for G-d, along with the acceptance of the commandments, is the true spiritual liberation."

We should be zocheh to be true searchers and begin our search tonight.  

what do you think?

Binyamin - always looking for a good question 

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