Passover—A Celebration of Possible over Impossible

Mission Impossible

Do you ever feel like there are things that are impossible for you to do? Whether it is related to your health, wealth, relationships or heritage.

It is only natural to feel that way because there certainly are things that are impossible for us like jumping and touching the moon without a spaceship. But many times we extend that to things that really are possible but we have convinced ourselves that they are impossible.

Just imagine what it would have been like if you were back in Egypt over 3300 years ago. You and your family and all of your friends have only known slavery for many years. Along comes an 80 year old man with a speech impediment, who BTW escaped Egypt 62 years previous, after being convicted of murder and being sentenced to death.  

This man named Moses tells you that G-d appeared to him and told him to free the Jewish people from Egypt and that they should prepare for departure in a few months.

At first you are a bit hopeful but then he actually goes to Pharaoh and tells him to let the Jews go and amazingly things get worse. Confirming what you really knew deep down when the man first showed up and that is that leaving Egypt is impossible and will not happen anytime soon.

It would be the same as if someone came to you today and said that very soon there will be world peace and that all people will get along and respect one another and that all people will recognize the one G-d and we will all serve G-d together.

Most people will respond to that and say, “From your mouth to G-d’s ears”, “I hope so”. But few actually believe it possible right now.

The holiday of Passover is our celebration of possible over impossible. G-d says that what we think is impossible really is possible and we experienced it.

We are stuck in our own minds in a world of limited possibilities and seemingly unlimited impossibilities. We know people that are impossible to change, we ourselves seem like impossible to change in a significant way. Educating ourselves in Judaism, or making a greater contribution to Jewish life, learning Hebrew at an advanced age, living a more Jewish life, etc. all can seem impossible. Truly changing the world can appear unlikely.  

This is exactly the slave mentality that we suffered from in Egypt and continues to plague us today. It is true that we have small victories in life and discover within ourselves the power to overcome some of the things we thought impossible. But after each victory we are faced once again with something else that seems impossible.

Passover is the time of year when we are taken out of Egypt once again and given the opportunity to leave impossible and enter into possible.

Today is the birthday of our dear and beloved Rebbe. [Editor's note: this post was written on March 22]. He is celebrating his 111^th birthday in heaven and we commemorate it here on earth. The Rebbe was very much like Moses and redefined what was possible.

The Rebbe saw what was possible and tried to help us see it and attempted to inspire us to not only see it but be moved to achieve it.

Like no other leader before him the Rebbe cajoled, pushed, nudged, encouraged, and did everything in his power to move people to accomplish the impossible in their own lives and in the world around us.

And although the Rebbe accomplished so much he felt that we could accomplish so much more.

Today we are challenged to follow his lead and to take on at least one thing in our life that we think is impossible and make it possible.

I have had the great fortune of teaching Hebrew to a group of adults together with our wonderful Hebrew teacher Shalom Greenberg. The determination of the students to learn a language so late in life and for no other reason other than to know our own unique language truly is inspiring. In addition to the many people who have taken upon themselves more Jewish observance and their improvement as spouses, parents, friends and human beings.

This is a true testament to the spirit of Passover that is deep within each one of us and a spirit that the Rebbe saw in each one of us.

May we all be blessed with freedom this year from the things we have convinced ourselves are impossible and may we not only see that they are possible but we should be inspired to actually make them happen.

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Zalman Marcus

P.s. Here is a link to a video of how the Rebbe inspired some African American children to think and act with a possible attitude instead of impossible.

P.p.s Need a place for the seder? call 949-770-1270 or email rabbim@chabadofmv.com