Through rabbinic tradition, Serach Bat Asher (Gen. 46:17 and Num. 26:46) symbolizes the importance of mesorah—oral tradition, by telling it as it was, and being the conduit for information. This is a tradition we honor tonight at our sederLit. Order. The festive meal conducted on Passover night, in a specific order with specific rituals to symbolize aspects of the Exodus from Egypt. It is conducted following the haggadah, a book for this purpose. The mystics of Sefat also created a seder for Tu B'shvat, the new year of the trees.. Serach is reported to have been among the 10 or 11 people in the TorahThe Five Books of Moses, and the foundation of all of Jewish life and lore. The Torah is considered the heart and soul of the Jewish people, and study of the Torah is a high mitzvah. The Torah itself a scroll that is hand lettered on parchment, elaborately dressed and decorated, and stored in a decorative ark. It is chanted aloud on Mondays, Thursdays, and Shabbat, according to a yearly cycle. Sometimes "Torah" is used as a colloquial term for Jewish learning and narrative in general. who never died, like ElijahElijah is a biblical prophet who is said never to have died. There are therefore many legends associated with Elijah. In the Talmud, unresolved arguments will be resolved when Elijah comes. He will herald the coming of the messiah. In Jewish ritual, Elijah is a liminal figure, arriving at moments of danger and transition – at a brit milah, a chair is put out for him, a cup is poured for Elijah at the Passover seder, and he is invoked at havdalah. His Hebrew name is Eliyahu.. You might add a cup for Serach next to Elijah’s cup, to acknowledge this connection. Elijah represents our hope for the future, while Serach represents the importance of remembering and learning from the past. She is even able to correct the ancient sages in their re-telling of the Exodus story:
“Rabbi Yochanan was sitting and expounding, how the waters were made into a wall for IsraelLit. ''the one who struggles with God.'' Israel means many things. It is first used with reference to Jacob, whose name is changed to Israel (Genesis 32:29), the one who struggles with God. Jacob's children, the Jewish people, become B'nai Israel, the children of Israel. The name also refers to the land of Israel and the State of Israel.. Rabbi Yochanan explained they were like opaque walls. Serach, the daughter of Asher, grew angry and said ‘I was there, and they were like nets!’” (Pesikta D’Rav Kahana 11:13)
As you hold your Serach’s Cup aloft (why not make your own before Pesakh?), or if you don’t have one, the seder plate, which encourages us to tell and to ask, read together:
We remember the lessons taught to us by those who wrote our stories, and those who passed them on by word of mouth. Those who have celebrated seder before us, and who in each generation made the Exodus, slavery, and freedom come to life. May we be empowered to add life and new meaning to our seder, remembering those who continue in slavery today, and being inspired to not just talk the talk, but to walk the walk of freedom, and to fight for others to enjoy freedom too.
For a brief sketch of some of Serach’s story see: http://rabbidebbie.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/passing-on-traditions-serach-b…
