A SYNTHESIS OF THE PASSOVER RITUAL AND LITURGY
WITH THE TWELVE STEPS OF RECOVERY
By Reb Hershy W.
6
The Seder begins
with a Benediction Sanctifying the Day. A declaration of a Yom Tov. It
has a standard form, Kiddush.
KIDDUSH
We begin Kiddush by filling a 5 oz. cup with grape
juice. It is important that the cup be filled to the extent that the surface
tension of the liquid forms a crown over the top of the cup. The force
which keeps the liquid together in this way, the surface tension, is an
effect of Natural Physical laws which are not our concern here. Nevertheless,
without this effect there would be no Life on the planet Earth, since water
(whose molecular weight is only 17 Daltons) would be a gas not a liquid.
We hold in the palm of our hand a cup of this magical liquid, whose properties
we take so for granted, yet which are fantastically providential. Looking
at the light reflected off the edges of this crown, it is a good moment
to reflect on all the forces at work in our lives which have brought us
to this point. We celebrate the four elementary components of the grape:
sunlight, wind, rain and earth. We even celebrate the four forces that
go to make up the atoms themselves.
Finally we acknowledge Hashem's hand in the
creation of what we are about to drink. The grape juice we hold is a pure
example of Hashem's energy transubstantiated. E = mc2 means that if you
have enough energy you can make matter. Hashem has that energy and we are
the matter He has fashioned. This is the meaning of the first Blessing.
"Who creates the fruit of the vine".
The second part of Kiddush refers us to our chosen-ness.
Those of us who are in Recovery understand the mystery of being chosen.
Why are we in Recovery? What makes us special
that we have been granted the grace of this gift? This blueprint for action
this program of life. The Torah, the Steps, the whole concept of our Recovery?
The answer, of course, is always a mystery. Hashem simply said "Enough!
You've suffered enough!" We are no better or worse, simply lucky. We express
our astonishment at the love and joy this festival represents and how different
we feel as a consequence.
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