By Eli Bass, Director of Jewish Life
A while after college, on a dare, I signed up for a marathon. I needed a challenge. The marathon and its training pushed me in many ways; long runs with lots of time to think. Extensive, time-consuming training pushed me to new places both physically and mentally.
Running a race that takes four hours brought me deep happiness as well as intense pain and tears. During the race, I told myself I would never do this again. But after I crossed the finish line after 26.2 miles, I knew I needed to do it again.
In December, I signed up for my third marathon. I’m currently amid training and thinking about running all the time. These races are deeply gratifying and fulfilling. My training calendar is full of necessary fitness regiments and deep personal challenge. Many of my friends still struggle to understand this piece of me.
My training also has me focused on Passover, which starts on the evening of April 10. As the largest event for the Jewish community on campus, Passover becomes a strong focus for me professionally. At the festive Seder meal we are reminded: “In each generation we must see ourselves as those liberated from Egyptian bondage.” What makes me a slave and how do I march toward freedom as I approach the Passover holiday? Each year I need to wrestle with my own personal liberation.
In addition to the Seder meal, there is one way we most strongly focus on our liberation. In Judaism we have a strong focus on bread. At meals, bread enables us to sanctify a meal. Breaking bread creates community. For those who have visited us at Hillel, you know the deep pride we take in baking fresh challah bread to welcome you to our Shabbat dinners. It is a weekly custom filled with joy and tradition.
The Bible articulates a vision of how we should remember the Exodus: “Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.” [Exodus 12:20]. It is this strict practice of not eating bread that forms a backbone of the holiday.
The freedom of Passover is not a freedom to do as one pleases. Instead, freedom comes with a choice to be in a relationship with God and an acceptance of deep challenge. A choice to allow yourself to be different.
Traditional Jewish households will clean the entire home to ensure that not even a single crumb of bread or bread-related product remains in the home. There are a wide variety of products that form this religious prohibition. It is with a deep sense of importance that observant Jewish homes work to rid themselves of the most basic of food products. This structure is designed to remind us of our own need to be liberated. Instead of bread at Passover, Jews traditionally sanctify matzo, an unleavened bread. It is a simple and bland product. By the end of the Passover week, I’ll be very happy to have a slice of pizza and return to bread products.
Frederick Douglass said, “Freedom is a path seldom traveled by the multitude.” Douglas leaves me with more questions than answers. What today makes me a slave? What is the road that I need to travel down to become free? What do I need to do to become free? What does freedom mean to me? What does it mean to live a fulfilled life? Who am I? Am I doing enough to help those who are experiencing deep need?
Passover and running are practices that help me to ask deeper, bigger questions. Do you have a practice that allows you to find freedom? If so, I’d love to hear about it.
Director’s Discussion reflects the views of an individual member of the religious field. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the entire university. The content of the Forum page is the responsibility of the editor in chief and the Forum editor.
