More Than Four Questions: A Note from Rabbi Bitran

I am sure Governor Shapiro’s children had more than four questions to ask their parents this past Passover Seder. They inquired about being awakened in the middle of the night and seeing the destruction at the Governor’s mansion.

That same night, the Jewish world was reading the Haggadah, recalling Pharaoh’s cruel treatment of the Israelites in Egypt. Throughout the evening, we remembered the antisemitic acts committed on Passover night throughout history. The family of Gov. Shapiro lived through an act of similar violence. How should we respond? What would you do under similar circumstances?

I learned that the Governor and his family had a second seder! They didn’t use their sacred time to draw attention to themselves; instead, they allowed the Second Seder and the Haggadah to convey the truth about antisemites and those who continually seek our destruction.

Some people wanted to ascribe their political viewpoints to what happened to the Shapiro family. That seems to be the wrong approach. In any act of violence, we are repeatedly asked if this is the right way to solve our differences. The answer is no. That should be our unanimous response and repudiation against this act of vandalism, antisemitism, and violence. Personal or political disagreement does not justify violence.

One of the Passover messages is to find the good in society through human freedom and the right to practice our lives and religion as we see fit.

Our unequivocal response to the attack on the Governor’s residence in Pennsylvania is to condemn acts of violence in a free society.

May every Jew, the Governor, and family enjoy the rest of Passover. To them Mo’adim L’Simcha! “May your times be happy!”