There’s an old saying, “Time marches on, it doesn’t stop for anybody.” We blink our eyes and the wonderful holiday of Pesach is history. There are many customs among our great nation for many of our chagim. Over the course of the holiday of Pesach, I had spoken to many people and I came across this touching story of Rav Baruch Dopelt. His name may sound familiar to some of the readers; this is because I quote him in many of the Divrei Torah which I write and lecture on.
He mentioned that his custom at the Pesach Seder is that everybody who is sitting at the Seder table gets a chance to say the Mah Nishtana to their father. This is because the Seder is all about asking questions to the elders. It doesn’t matter what age they are; everyone recites it. Of course, the youngsters are thrilled with the opportunity for the limelight. However, the teenagers are a bit embarrassed and feel it’s not their speed anymore to recite the questions. But there are those like Rabbi Dopelt, who’s a grandfather many times over, who has been saying the Mah Nishtana, with the exception of this year, to his father ever since he can remember. Unfortunately, his father passed away this past year and he discontinued his questions. There is a feeling of a tremendous loss at the table. I can definitely feel for Rabbi Dopelt, having lost my father eight years ago. I can still remember him sitting in his customary joma (holiday robe) and excitingly answering the Patriarch response to the questions, ‘avadim hayinu.’ Rav Dopelt said how nice it would be to say the Mah Nishtana one more time to his father.
It seems like Rabbi Dopelt and I have inherited quite a responsibility. Now we are the Patriarchs of our family and it’s our task to pass down the tradition of our families that goes back three thousand years. It’s a challenge to step up to the plate and give over to your children what your father has taught you all these years. The sages say to keep it fun and interesting. We, the Patriarchs, are now in the entertainment business; and it’s worth a million dollars to see your child respond eagerly to your stories and answers. |
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