Reflections on Pesach
by Yehudah Elimelech (Kingsley Arthur Rowe)

I was asked by Adam Shechter by way of the Rebbetzin to share my thoughts about Pesach and the Moshiach Seudah. In reflecting, it has been a little over six months since I “officially” joined “The Tribe” so every holiday “counts” now and is a new opportunity to experience HaShem’s blessings on a higher spiritual level as a Jew. For me, this first Pesach was a time of deep introspection on the great honor and blessing conferred on me by HaShem in making me Jewish and my deliverance from a “righteous gentile” into a life of meaning and purpose through Torah, and the 613 mitzvoth. Accompanying this great honor and blessing from HaShem, I was given a family as well, Congregation B’nai Jacob.

The Moshiach Seudah was a fitting culmination to Pesach but the tone was set in the beginning with the two beautiful seders I had the pleasure of attending with the families and friends of Moshe & Shanee Weidenfeld and Zusha & Beth Dean, respectively.

Turning my thoughts to the Moshiach Seudah as I sat at the Rabbi’s table listening to members of Congregation B’nai Jacob share intimate thoughts of what Pesach meant to them, I was enveloped by feelings of wholeness, warmth and appreciation for the life I have been given as a Jew. There was something very compelling and authentic about the stories of loss, healing, and renewal that permeated the room.

In a talk on love, the Lubavitcher Rebbe said the following, “The three loves -- love of G’d, love of Torah and love of one's fellow -- are one. One cannot differentiate between them, for they are of a single essence..And since they are of a single essence, each one embodies all three.” It was beautiful to experience this single essence of love as understood by the Lubavitcher Rebbe on display at the Moshiach Seudah, it spoke to the character and faith of Congregation B’nai Jacob as a community. I truly believe the people of Congregation aspire to this standard of love and it’s inspiring.

When I was called on by the Rabbi to share my thoughts at the Moshiach Seudah, it was very hard to put into words how the people of Congregation B’nai Jacob enrich the quality of my life and show me through their example the beautiful nature of what it really means to be Jewish. That being a member of Congregation B’nai Jacob is humanity affirming in the deepest sense given the acts of love, kindness, generosity and inclusiveness I have encountered from members of our community.

As I departed the Moshiah Seudah I thought about that first Shabbos dinner I ever attended and the journey it has led me on. Looking back now I can’t imagine what my life would be without HaShem and his blessings and the people of Congregation B’nai Jacob.