Why is this night different from all other nights, from all other nights?
For weeks now, Jews all over the world have been preparing their homes meticulously for Pesach, or Passover. It begins at sunset tonight, and is introduced by the Pesach Seder.
The question above will be asked at every seder by the youngest person present capable of asking it. Rituals at the Pesach Seder are deliberately made unfamiliar so that children will be curious: “Why is this night different from all other nights, from all other nights?”
What a wonderful way of arousing curiosity in children, and a lesson for all of us. We should relish that habit children have of asking “why”, even when it’s extremely inconvenient! We should encourage them to ask questions all their lives and never to lose that curiosity. Pesach celebrates freedom, and the freedom to ask questions is a precious gift.
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What I really hate is when my kids ask really great questions, and I have no idea what the answer is. Like: How does such-and-such work? Or why do we do things such-and-such a way?
They could be brilliant…..