Avadim Hayinu, Remember That You Were Slaves

Avadim Hayinu, Remember That You Were Slaves

At Touro Synagogue

April 13, 2019

by Aaron Ginsburg

also on facebook

On Saturday at Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island we were down to bare essentials, with nary a visitor in sight. 

Passover has many themes and it is easy to get lost in the details and the preparation. On Shabbat, Rabbi Marc Mandel spoke about one of Pesach’s important themes,

“Today, the Shabbat before Pesach, is known as Shabbat Hagadol, the great Shabbat. At our lecture last night, we explained the reasons why it is called Shabbat Hagadol, so we won't go into that today. 

“It is customary on Shabbat Hagadol for the rabbi to discuss themes of Pesach. Last week, I saw an article on YU Torah, by Rabbi David Etengoff. Rabbi Etengoff suggests that one of the main themes of Pesach is social justice. 

“Five times, the Torah tells us to remember that we were slaves in Egypt, and therefore, we need to be careful how we treat the vulnerable people in society. In fact, Maimonides teaches us, if someone rejoices on a holiday, but neglects to take care of the needy, they have not performed the mitzvah correctly. 

“I am very proud that at our Hebrew School, once a month, we make sandwiches for the needy and deliver it to them. I am very glad that the Hebrew School has incorporated social justice into its core curriculum. This is one of the main themes of Pesach. Shabbat Shalom.”

loaded and ready to go

At Zayde's Market
Canton, MA

If you signed up for the Seder at Touro Synagogue, you will be happy to know the food has made its journey from Zayde's Market in Canton, Massachusetts to the Levi Gale House in Newport. The bill was carefully checked against the boxes before departure to make sure nothing was missing. From small pieces of horseradish to the charoset, the order is complete. 

marshmallows by the sea

Have shankbone, will travel!

A bag of kosher for Passover mini-marshmallows found its way into the order for a desperate Newporter who was cast adrift by the strike at Stop and Shop, and wanted pieces of the white stuff in her morning beverage. On arrival, a crew efficiently unloaded the car and carried the goodies downstairs.

Under the leadership of Marcia Cohen, the culinary aspects of our Seder are under control. The tables are set and Paula and crew are preparing to warm things up and make a few additional items.

The view from Battery Park, Newport, RI

After dropping off the food, I headed down to Battery Park to rest and enjoy the view that my mother, Dorothy Pokross Ginsburg, delighted in on many a day while she ate her bag lunch. This being Newport, the Newport Bridge vanished in fog bank, accompanied by the incessant sound of a fog horn.

Washington and Battery Str.
Newport RI

An army, and the Jewish people, cannot march without food. A complete Passover journey has an additional need, food for the soul. Tonight we join the Jewish people of yesterday, today and tomorrow in the quest for a better life and a better way to live that life. For each person, that journey has a distinct beginning and end, but as a people the journey continues as we try to learn from the errors and successes of the past. That journey is the theme of Pesach.

Chag Sameach from Jewish Newport!

Thanks to Beth Ginsburg Levine for editing, to Rabbi Marc Mandel for his Torah message, and to the employees and volunteers that help us on our journey.