Waiting for a better world

The main theme of the Passover holiday is freedom. Passover commemorates the Israelite Exodus from Egypt more than 3,300 years ago. Still there are other themes contained within the Pesach holiday. One such theme is the coming of the messiah.

Throughout the Pesach Seder— the Passover meal — we make reference to the messiah through words and customs. One can find on every Seder table a special cup of wine called the Kos Eliahu, the Cup of Elijah. Tradition tells us that Elijah the prophet comes to each of our homes and becomes part of our Seder, hence the need for a cup especially for him. Why does Elijah come to our Sederim? Tradition teaches that when the messiah comes, he will be heralded by Elijah the prophet. If Elijah is searching for the messiah, what better way to conduct the search than to come to the Seder, where most Jews will be found?

The messiah is also mentioned in the grace after meals where we say, “May the Merciful One help us to merit the coming of the messiah and life in the world to come.” Before singing the final hymns in our Hagaddot (Passover Seder books) we end the liturgy with the words B’shanah Habaah birushalayim —Next year may we celebrate together in Jerusalem. This is a reference to the end of days when the righteous shall gather with the messiah in Jerusalem.

Even our closing hymns contain a messianic message. The last hymn of the Hagaddah is called “Had Gadya.” Most of us learned it as children. In the song, a cat eats a baby goat and is then bitten by a dog. The dog is hit with a stick and then the stick is burned by fire. Water quenches the fire, but then an ox drinks the water. The slaughterer kills the ox, only to be killed by the Angel of Death. Finally, God kills the angel of death and the song is over. This is more than just a children’s song. It is a song about perfect justice, in which each sin is balanced by an act of punishment. But the end is most interesting. In the end, when perfect justice has been achieved, God abolishes death. Perfect justice and the abolition of death are part of the scenario we expect when the messiah arrives.

In a world so filled with war, poverty and injustice, we look for the messiah in hopes that he will bring us salvation. As we wait for his arrival, we do our best to improve our world by living justly and by performing acts of righteousness and loving-kindness.

May we be blessed this Passover with health and joy, security and prosperity. May God always be with us as we try to repair the world. May we merit the coming of the messiah. Next year in Jerusalem!

Rabbi Graber is the spiritual leader of Temple Hillel in North Woodmere.