Three Rabbis, four questions and more at Pinner Synagogue

Members of Pinner Synagogue, in conjunction with Northwood & Ruislip Synagogue, took a break from pre-Pesach preparations to enjoy an evening of inspirational insights into the Passover story, provided by Pinner Rabbi Jason Kleiman, Northwood & Ruislip Rabbi Shaya Green, and Rabbi Zvi Cohen, currently Rabbi in Kingsbury, soon to be in Belmont.

Together the “Three Rabbis” shared their individual takes on exactly why, and how, Seder Night is indeed different from all other nights:

Rabbi Cohen explained why the seemingly random order of the Haggadah does in fact show a logical sequence of ideas and concepts, stressing the importance of telling the story “in every generation”.

Rabbi Green chose to focus on the nuance of how the unique mitzvah given to Bnai Yisrael to dip a bunch of hyssop in the blood of a lamb and daub it on the doorpost so that Hashem would ‘pass over’ that house, before they left Egypt, led to Israel becoming a nation.   “This one-time mitzvah was not just theatre – it was transformation,” he said.

In contrast, Rabbi Kleiman concentrated on the overreaching goal of Seder Night in its entirety.   Echoing Rabbi Cohen’s theme, before a spirited question and answer session, Rabbi Kleiman emphasised what he called “the timelessness of the Pesach story” and the emphasis that the Rabbinical Sages, despite their many differences of opinion,  placed upon transmitting to each generation the overriding themes of the Haggadah.   For example, they agreed on the crucial importance of including the pre-story of Abraham’s heroic stance against idol-worship, to put into wider context the degradation and slavery which followed, and the redemption which resulted – a pattern which has been repeated over millennia in Jewish history, right up until the present day.  “We all have different ways of finding meaning from the  Haggadah,” concluded Rabbi Kleiman,  “it’s up to us to make it our own.”

Event organiser Gerald Isaacs said that “this evening has given us all much inspiration for the Seder” and Pinner Synagogue Chairman Mervyn Beth added, “it is encouraging to see such a good attendance at this event in Pinner Shul.”

Synagogue member Anne Erdunast commented, “I really learned something this evening, and hope to repeat it round the Seder Table.  It was good to hear different perspectives also.”

All the “Three Rabbis” agreed that it had been a very enjoyable and informative evening, and Rabbi Green added, with a smile, “Tonight is proof that there’s always something new to talk about!”

Left to right – Rabbi Zvi Cohen, Rabbi Shaya Green and Rabbi Jason Kleiman are introduced as the “Three Rabbis” by event organiser Gerald Isaacs at Pinner Synagogue.