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Shabbat Bo 

Gabrielle Goodman

January 31, 2004

In Parashat Bo, we are in the middle of the book of Exodus, in the midst of the famous 10 plagues that God brought upon Egypt to free the Israelites. The Parasha begins with plagues 7, 8, and 9: Hail, Locusts, and Darkness. In between plagues 9 and 10, in chapter 12, verse 1 through 20, there is an interruption, in which God lays out the rules about how the Israelites should  remember their deliverance from Egypt. It is at this time that the Israelites are informed about the tenth plague, the death of the first-born Egyptians, what they need to do before it happens, and what will happen after they are declared free by Pharaoh. The Parasha then goes on to tell about what takes place during the final plague.

Although there are many interesting general topics to discuss in this Parasha, there was one sentence that really drew me in, while I was reading it. This sentence appears at the moment when Moses is being instructed on how to remember the Exodus. The text says that if any Israelite does not follow the rules of Passover appropriately, that person will be "cut off" from his/her people. This expression appears more than once in the text. I decided to search deeper into this particular subject, and try to figure out what this phrase is telling us.

The first question that came to mind is "what exactly does it mean to be 'cut off'?" There are several definitions of the expression in Webster's dictionary:

1. To separate from other parts
2. To sever
3. To put an end to suddenly, to interrupt, to stop
4. To intercept
5. To omit from the benefits of a will or testament.

This last definition particularly sparked my interest. A will or testament is a form of contract. It can be argued that any religion is very similar to a contract between God and a particular people. Most religions offer some kind of benefits to their followers. In my experience, the most wonderful aspects of growing up a Jew are as follows:

Unity - that is, feeling connected to a very ancient people and being included in a community.
Exploration - Often, I find it hard to accept that "the way things are" is "the way things are". Judaism not only allows, but encourages me to question things, without fear of disapproval and rejection.
Observing the Holidays - For me, the celebrations I share with family and friends are extremely important and enjoyable.
Having a solid sense of identity - Without a religion to belong to, I think I would feel a little bit lost in society. Which brings us back to being part of a specific group, in this case, the Jewish people.

Being "cut off" from the Jewish people would mean missing out on many of the benefits I just spoke about. A person who is "cut off" would not be included anymore in something they once were part of, he or she would be disconnected.

But how would this disconnection happen? Who would cut that person off? Would it be God? Does anybody really believe that God would descend from wherever he or she dwells, to physically remove that person from the Jewish circle? Probably not very many people believe such a thing anymore.

In Biblical times, there was a direct cause and effect set-up. If God's laws were obeyed, there would be rewards. If God's laws were not followed, there would be punishment. However, throughout history it has been demonstrated that following God's laws does not mean that you will be protected at all times. During the Holocaust, for example, those who observed God's commandments suffered just as much as those who ignored them. Over time, it has become clear that now it is up to the community, or individuals, to make choices for themselves.

So what are people thinking when they decide to increase or decrease their religious observance? I don't know for certain, but I find it very interesting that Passover is the #1 celebrated holiday on the Jewish calendar. And it's in relation to Passover that the biblical verse about being cut off appears in the Torah.

One might say that this is because it is the most important of all the Jewish holidays. But what is it exactly that makes this holiday so very important to people? As we read in Chapter 12, verses 25 to 28, children will ask, "what do you mean by this service?", meaning the Passover rituals. So the Torah itself gives us the opportunity to ask ourselves why we make the choices we do. I don't think that the holiday is so important because of the line in the Torah that states that a person will be "cut off" if they don't observe Passover. I think that it has to do with the story. The story of Passover is not only fascinating, but it is THE story of the Jewish people.

Many particular groups or religions have a story that is extremely important, and follows the same theme as the Passover story: bondage to freedom. This theme of bondage to freedom is describing a journey - the most important journey that the people involved will ever make. Metaphorically speaking, everybody is on a journey, their own journey through life.

There are many different phases in this journey. A person's level of observance may largely depend on which phase of their life they are in. Depending on who you are, where the line is drawn between "cut off" and not "cut off", is in completely different places.

For some people, having a Seder at Passover might be all that is needed to feel connected to Judaism, while for others, turning on a light on Shabbat is enough to make them feel cut off. The traditions that I choose to observe are important and meaningful to me, but these same traditions may not be relevant in another person's eyes. It is all a matter of the individual's choice, and certainly not for me to judge. But individual choice, made in the context of community, can help prevent people being "cut off". Jewish peoplehood draws me in, and once I am there, I can make informed choices that keep me connected to Judaism and the Jewish people, as well as to my own voice.

Becoming a Bat-Mitzvah has given me the opportunity to begin studying and learning about my religion, in preparation for making those informed choices all along my journey. It has strengthened my relationship to Judaism, and sealed my commitment to my heritage. I am grateful for this experience, and glad to be taking my place in this community.

Shabbat Shalom!