Rabbi Knopf's Blog

The Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about the festival and its meaning. In that spirit, I offer a brief message each day leading up to Passover, drawn from the wisdom of the holiday and the Exodus story. Feel free to share/forward.  -Rabbi Knopf

Day 17: Scarcity or Abundance?
As the Seder begins, we hold up matzah and say, “This is the bread of affliction that our ancestors ate in Egypt. All who are hungry, come and eat!” In this brief passage, we show the outcomes of two world-views: scarcity and abundance. Pharaoh oppresses the Israelites because he sees scarcity, fearing too many people and not enough resources. This view can lead to terror and affliction. Abundance, the idea that there is more than enough to go around if justly distributed, enables love, kindness, and cooperation We can choose how to see our world, and what kind of person that will make us.