Passover points to freedom's value

Eight days are sanctified by Jews throughout the world as reminders of the value and meaning of freedom. The first and last two days traditionally are observed most intensely.
On the first two days, Jewish homes are filled with family and friends retelling the biblical exodus story in an elaborate meal gathering. During this hallmark Passover gathering, food, prayers, discussion and music are stimulated to make the lessons of Passover more palpable.
A shank bone serves as a token symbol of the paschal lamb that once served as the Passover offering expressing the Israelites' loyalty and belief in the universal God of Israel who then saved them from suffering the plague of the first born.
Freedom cannot be taken lightly. In the choreography of the ritual meal both bitter and sweet-tasting foods are sampled to represent the joys and the suffering of the ancestors in the exodus.
At the same time, there is recognition of how every generation must learn to balance the joyous and unpleasant components of life to mature and even just to survive. And, there are many more important lessons of Passover.
It's not just physical
What is the essence of freedom? The anguish and intolerance of many people throughout the world shows that physical freedom is not sufficient. People need to learn the values and significance of life to cultivate the benefits of a free society for all people. Therefore, Passover includes the biblical lessons of God that nurture humanitarian values.
One of the symbolic foods resembles and symbolizes the mortar the Israelites had to work with in their Egyptian enslavement. On Passover this mortar also symbolizes the many ways people can affect the world. It teaches that people can make a better world if they conduct life with a humanitarian vision.
In 1774 as he was working on a national motto and seal, Thomas Jefferson pictured America as "The Children of Israel in the Wilderness." Benjamin Franklin wanted to show Moses parting the Red Sea. A motto they first considered was "Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God."
Jefferson and Franklin understood that the values of the Passover tradition are ideas that have founded and fueled the human ideals and institutions of real liberty and human dignity.
When Israel made the exodus and eventually received the Covenant from God at Sinai, the world was blessed with a new vision of humanity. People were elevated in stature from vassals and slaves of reigning demagogues to partners of hope and freedom with the universal creator.
On Passover, we take the journey from slavery to personal and national freedom in the promised land. Each of us is on that journey in some area of our lives. Passover strives for a shared vision that guides humanity to fashion this world into "the promised land" of freedom for all.
Rabbi Joseph P. Schonberger is head of the congregation at Temple El Emeth in Youngstown.