Why is this night different from all other nights?

Interestingly, on the first Passover (Exodus 12), the Hebrew people were commanded to sequester themselves in their homes so that the 10th and final plague (death of the firstborn) would pass-over their homes and spare the the life of their first born sons. This would happen as long as the blood of an unblemished lamb was applied to the door lintel and mantle…The blood would be the sign of deliverance from the plague of the Death Angel.

The Apostle Paul taps into this narrative in 1 Corinthians 5:7 when he states:

“Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”

Passover is a memory of deliverance…

Passover is a reminder that God hears the cries of His people…

Passover invites into the Exodus drama, a movement from slavery to freedom…
from sin to righteousness…from fear to faith…

The Ma Nishtanah,” Why is this night different from all the other nights?” is answered with the ‘Four Questions’

* On all other nights we do not dip vegetables even once, on this night, we dip twice?
* On all other nights we eat both chametz and matzah, on this night, we eat only matzah?
* On all other nights we eat many vegetables, on this night, maror (bitter herbs)?
* On all other nights some eat and drink sitting with others reclining, but on this night, we are all reclining?

With the four questions asked, the food prepared, and the wine ready, we enter into the memory of the Exodus story; not as history, but in solidarity as the familiar story unfolds through symbol, smell, taste and Scripture.

This year I think should ask, “Why is this Passover different from all other Passovers?”
Well, Passover 2020 is different from other Passovers because “it is similar” to the very first one in that we are quarantined in our homes because of a plague (Corona Virus)

Perhaps this Passover is a good time to remember that God is a God of deliverance. A God who hears our cries. A God who is involved with and stands in solidarity with His people. A God who provides the way to freedom and forgiveness. A God who gives us Torah (His Word) so that we can live in such a way that justice, beauty and shalom fill the land.

This is a good Passover to practice and sing  Dayenu…

Dayenu  means “it would have been sufficient” and is a song of gratitude sung toward the end of the seder when the story of the Exodus is retold.

In each stanza, we recall another kindness that G‑d performed for our ancestors and proclaim that it alone would have been reason for celebration.

The following are the fifteen “goodnesses”

If He had brought us out from Egypt, and had not carried out judgments against them Dayenu, it would have been sufficient!	אִלּוּ הוֹצִיאָנוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם וְלֹא עָשָׂה בָהֶם שְׁפָטִים דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had carried out judgments against them, and not against their idols Dayenu, it would have been sufficient!	אִלּוּ עָשָׂה בָהֶם שְׁפָטִים וְלֹא עָשָׂה בֵאלֹהֵיהֶם דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had destroyed their idols, and had not smitten their first-born Dayenu, it would have been sufficient!	אִלּוּ עָשָׂה בֵאלֹהֵיהֶם וְלֹא הָרַג אֶת בְּכוֹרֵיהֶם דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had smitten their first-born, and had not given us their wealth Dayenu, it would have been sufficient!	אִלּוּ הָרַג אֶת בְּכוֹרֵיהֶם וְלֹא נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת מָמוֹנָם דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had given us their wealth, and had not split the sea for us Dayenu, it would have been sufficient!	אִלּוּ נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת מָמוֹנָם וְלֹא קָרַע לָנוּ אֶת הַיָּם דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had split the sea for us, and had not taken us through it on dry land Dayenu, it would have been sufficient!	אִלּוּ קָרַע לָנוּ אֶת הַיָּם וְלֹא הֶעֱבִירָנוּ בְּתוֹכוֹ בֶּחָרָבָה דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had taken us through the sea on dry land, and had not drowned our oppressors in it Dayenu, it would have been sufficient!	אִלּוּ הֶעֱבִירָנוּ בְּתוֹכוֹ בֶּחָרָבָה וְלֹא שִׁקַּע צָרֵינוּ בְּתוֹכוֹ דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had drowned our oppressors in it, and had not supplied our needs in the desert for forty years Dayenu, it would have been sufficient!	אִלּוּ שִׁקַּע צָרֵינוּ בְּתוֹכוֹ וְלֹא סִפֵּק צָרְכֵנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had supplied our needs in the desert for forty years, and had not fed us the manna Dayenu, it would have been sufficient!	אִלּוּ סִפֵּק צָרְכֵנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה וְלֹא הֶאֱכִילָנוּ אֶת הַמָּן דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had fed us the manna, and had not given us the Shabbat Dayenu, it would have been sufficient!	אִלּוּ הֶאֱכִילָנוּ אֶת הַמָּן וְלֹא נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had given us the Shabbat, and had not brought us before Mount Sinai Dayenu, it would have been sufficient!	אִלּוּ נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת וְלֹא קֵרְבָנוּ לִפְנֵי הַר סִינַי דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had brought us before Mount Sinai, and had not given us the Torah Dayenu, it would have been sufficient!	אִלּוּ קֵרְבָנוּ לִפְנֵי הַר סִינַי וְלֹא נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת הַתּוֹרָה דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had given us the Torah, and had not brought us into the land of Israel Dayenu, it would have been sufficient!	אִלּוּ נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת הַתּוֹרָה וְלֹא הִכְנִיסָנוּ לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל דַּיֵּנוּ
If He had brought us into the land of Israel, and had not built for us the Beit Habechirah (Chosen House; the Beit Hamikdash) Dayenu, it would have been sufficient!	אִלּוּ הִכְנִיסָנוּ לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא בָנָה לָנוּ אֶת בֵּית הַבְּחִירָה דַּיֵּנוּ

Dayenu helps me remember that God is good even when things are not going my way or the way I planned.

Dayenu helps me remember that God has given me so much, even if He hasn’t given me that ‘one thing’ that is making me bitter or resentful because I don’t have it.

Dayenu helps me remember that God has given me all that I need to find joy, peace, and love in this life. There is nothing I lack…It’s already in me!

This Passover May you know that God sees you, hears your cries, knows your struggle, and sits in the quarantine with you and will lead you out in due time.

This too shall pass.