The Questions of Passover

by Connor Wahrman

The Pesach seder is packed with questions. Near the beginning, the Ma Nishtana has the youngest participant ask five questions: Why is this night different from all other nights? Why tonight do we eat only matzoh? Why tonight must we eat maror? Why tonight do we dip our food twice? Why tonight do we all recline? A little later, three of the four sons ask more questions: What are all the parts of the laws G-d has commanded you? What good is this service to you? What is this? And even later, there are three more questions: Why did our ancestors eat the Passover offering during the time of the Beis HaMikdash? Why do we eat this matzoh? Why do we eat this bitter herb? And near the end of the seder, there are 13 famous questions, starting with “Who knows one?”  (“Echad Mi Yodeah?”).

In all, there are 24 questions related to the Passover service. This is also the number of hours in a day and the number of books in the Tanakh: the Torah, Prophets and Writings. There were also 24 gifts given to the Kohanim to compensate for their services throughout the year. Much can be learned from these correlations.

For every hour in the day there is a question. In fact, one should have plenty of questions for each hour of the day. It is easy to become lost in a routine, repeating the same motions over and over until they become almost robotic. But Judaism is a religion of activity, of services, rituals, customs, commandments and mitzvot. To avoid falling into thoughtless repetition, we must constantly ask ourselves questions. Where am I going in my life? What can I do differently today? Who do I want to be?  How can I make the world better? Questioning every move may seem like a burden to some, but this questioning can also enrich the everyday experience. It brings new life to old routines, putting them into new perspectives. This is what Pesach is also about, for we once were slaves and now we can live like kings.

For every book in the Tanakh, there is a question. Actually, there are books filled with questions about the Tanakh. For centuries, scholars have been debating the meanings of words and the applications in our lives. But everyone has the ability to question the words. It is not right to simply do away with the text if one disagrees with it. Rather, one should question it, bringing up the concerns with someone else and discussing different opinions on the matter. Judaism has always been fluid, able to accommodate changes in location, language, culture and climate. The mere existence of Jews in nearly all corners of the globe after over two millennia is proof that discussion and debate have led to a flourishing religion.  This is also what Pesach is about, as we spend many pages of the Haggadah reading the arguments and discussions of the rabbis of old.

For every Biblical gift there is a question. And every question is a gift as well. Most great achievements would not have occurred if nobody had asked if things could be done a different way. History is filled with examples of people questioning unjust governments, scientists questioning the laws of nature and ordinary people questioning ordinary society.

When the youngest child sings the questions of the Ma Nishtana, or when all of us join in unison to ask “Who Knows One?,” remember that these questions are not merely for livening up the seder. Understand that you can harness the power of inquiry to bring new life to your day, to find new meaning in your religion, and to advance your understanding of the world.

Do you know One?

Connor Wahrman,  a sophomore at Nicolet High School, lives in Fox Point.