tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411958894593823280.post1945881766936209796..comments2024-03-27T01:43:07.992+02:00Comments on Random Thoughts: THE REST OF THE STORYAlan Edelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06291102902419614285noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411958894593823280.post-33067600892162817662012-04-10T01:34:09.429+03:002012-04-10T01:34:09.429+03:00I love the way you write, Alan. Thanks so much f...I love the way you write, Alan. Thanks so much for including me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411958894593823280.post-67455976637892994452012-04-10T01:33:29.678+03:002012-04-10T01:33:29.678+03:00Just a note here at Passover time that I am enjoyi...Just a note here at Passover time that I am enjoying your thoughts, travelogues and other ruminations of a Jewish elder (unless they raise the age limit on you).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411958894593823280.post-1908585414015134272012-04-10T01:20:15.771+03:002012-04-10T01:20:15.771+03:00Re your earlier article on Pesach- just a comment...Re your earlier article on Pesach- just a comment. I want to suggest that freedom as we commonly understand it and is generally conveyed in these sort of seders that are celebrated in public venues like the White House may not be the rabbis ' definition of freedom that is intended in the Haggadah. My understanding, that of a lay person with a speckled knowledge of Jewish tradition, is that the "freedom" celebrated on Pesach is the freedom to follow the Halacha- that is the freedom to be Jewish and practice Judaism unfettered by the majority population that has other ideas about how we should conduct our lives. In that sense, it isn't the freedom to do whatever we want, it is the freedom to be Jews. I was once at a very interesting weekend with the family at Brandeis-Bardin, one of my favorite places, attending a series of seminars before Pesach. During one breakout session, the predominate issue seemed to be having the freedom not to invite certain relatives to the seders- that sounds sort of funny, but I am serious- the rabbi conducting the main session stressed expressing freedom at Pesach and this is how it tranlated out in a small group setting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com