Home » Blog » Freedom of Thought

Freedom of Thought

Passover seders are intentionally packed with moments that are out of the ordinary from a typical meal. These rituals prompt us to ask questions. We learn in the Mishnah that we are required to ask questions on Passover, regardless of whether or not we know (or think we know) the answers. Framing the story through questions affirms that we are free—free to inquire and investigate, free to search for divine truth, free to seek justice.

Each year we ask “mah nishtanah” at our Passover seders; this helps connect to tradition and to Jews all over the world. But we also ask new questions that allow us to actively engage the world around us. By questioning societal norms and social injustice we notice how and when we are free, how and when we are not, and those who still struggle for basic freedoms we take for granted.

We offer you four collections of rituals that grapple with four new questions:

May we ask questions that open our eyes and compel us toward action so that in the coming year we can truly say, ”atah b’nei horin” (now we are free).
 

This piece originally appeared as Ritualwell’s April 2014 email. Sign up here to receive our monthly emails.

The Reconstructionist Network

Learning to Say "We": Writing Identity

In this immersion, we will reflect and expand on our personal experiences of identity, using writing exercises and in-depth discussions to think about, challenge, discover, explore, and experiment with different ways to identify ourselves, to consider how those ways connect us to and separate us from others, and how they represent and misrepresent aspects of who we are.

Four sessions, starting June 15th

Get the latest from Ritualwell

Subscribe for the latest rituals, online learning opportunities, and unique Judaica finds from our store.