Remembering for a Reason

Rabbi Melanie Aron

March 31, 2001

This morning in his remarks Jordan reminded us of a very difficult period in the history of the Jewish people. He reminded us of a dark time, which we might prefer not to think about, but which we feel obligated not to forget.

In doing this Jordan was acting with Biblical precedent. The Torah commands us in the book of Deuteronomy: "Remember what the Amalekites did to you"- the Amalekites, those enemies of God and of the Israelites, who contrary to the rules of warfare in ancient time, did not attack the Israelites frontally as they came forth out of Egypt, but snuck around the back, attacking the stragglers, old men, women and children, the most defenseless members of the community. Since ancient times we have been reminded to remember the Amalekites each year during the weeks before Passover.

Why are we are commanded to remember difficult and painful times whether ancient or more recent? Not just to wallow in our pain. In the Bible, every time we say, God remembered, it is a prelude to God taking some action. God remembered Sara and caused the angels to visit and promise her a son. God remembered the Israelites and moved to deliver them from Egypt. Similarly when we remember it should be for some purpose.

In speaking to us about a righteous non-Jew who risked his life to save the lives of strangers, Jordan is also implicitly urging action upon us. Remembering these righteous non-Jews challenges us to imitate their courage and selflessness. It requires of us a greater willingness to speak out about the suffering of others in our own times, others who may be different then ourselves.

In the Yom Kippur afternoon service, in the section that which is a memorial to the Holocaust, there is a meditation on the Chasidei Umot HaOlam-the righteous of the nations.

And yet even in the inferno, even there
were those we call chasidei umot haolam, the righteous of the nations.
Some gave their very lives to keep Jews from harm.
Who can measure such courage?
When so many were afraid to act,
They bore witness to the greatness
Men and women can reach.
Look and take heart.
If ever such days return,
Remember them and find courage.
Consider what can be done, what must be done
Not to banish from our souls the image of God.

One of the main themes of the Passover season is remembrance. We are commanded: Remember the day of the Exodus; Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. The Seder itself is a communal remembering and an attempt to pass memories on from one generation to the next.

But just as God's remembering in the Torah was always to some purpose, just as our remembering the Holocaust carries some obligation, so too our remembering the Exodus each year. The Torah even provides us with instructions as to the purpose of our remembrance. Over and over, the Torah reminds us "You know the heart of the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." Our tradition has confidence that if we internalize the message of the seder, "we were slaves unto Pharoah" then we will never side with oppression and tyranny.

May our seders next week be a joyous family time and may they also inspire us to greater sensitivity and compassion towards the strangers among us.