If I asked you to name the greatest love story ever told, you would likely mention Wuthering Heights, Anna Karenina, even Romeo and Juliet. But, no!
Those pale in comparison to ours. A good story needs a damsel in distress, a knight in shining armor, and a theatrical ride into the sunset. Our story is better.
Our story is about true love.
An orphan people (our damsel in distress) had been enslaved, and tortured for years.
They were saved by God, through miracles and suspensions of laws of physics.
They made a narrow escape from the castles of Egypt, as the gates (The Red Sea) closed on the horsemen.
They wander in the desert and were fed mana (necessity of life) from above.
As a pure act of love (not necessary to sustain life,) as taught by Rabbi Wolpe, clouds were sent to shield them against sun’s rays and stars to light up their path at night.
Amid that dry desolate desert sand, atop a mountain, God proposed to this people, not because of them, but because of their children.
A Ketubah, a marriage contract was written, and The Tree of Life, which was left behind in the Garden of Eden, given to them.
And God said- get up and go to the land that I will show you, act justly, love mercy and walk all your days humbly with Me, and I will never leave your side.
But, the story does not end there.
Each year, we sit around a table, with loved ones, and retell the story, making it our own.
Even as your bread is unleavened, your herbs bitter, and your story long, your soul should rise, and sing His praises, in love. Remember that Dayenu is a song of gratitude.
Teach your children: Ours is the greatest love story ever told.
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