{"id":41515,"date":"2018-03-09T17:53:42","date_gmt":"2018-03-09T23:53:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=41515"},"modified":"2018-06-02T04:45:22","modified_gmt":"2018-06-02T10:45:22","slug":"say-little-do-much-rasha","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/say-little-do-much-rasha\/","title":{"rendered":"Say Little, Do Much: Rasha"},"content":{"rendered":"

By RABBI JOSEPH H. PROUSER<\/p>\n

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The prescribed response to the \u201cRasha\u201d \u2013 Hakhei et Shinav<\/em> \u2013 is translated variously as \u201cSpeak harshly (or \u2018aggressively,\u2019 or \u2018sharply\u2019) to him\u201d or \u201cSet his teeth on edge.\u201d Elie Weisel translates, \u201cMake him feel uncomfortable.\u201d Some understand the Hebrew to signify (we hope metaphorically) \u201cSmack him in the mouth!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHakhei<\/em>\u201d is found in Rashi\u2019s commentary to Mishnah Pesachim 2:8, describing the effect of placing grain in the \u201cCharoset\u201d (not a ritual item, but a spicy relish!). The grain counteracts the sharpness of the dip. Hakhei et Shinav<\/em> might best be understood, therefore, as demanding that we respond to the Rasha\u2019s perceived \u201csharpness\u201d with cool heads and calming words, making the experience more (certainly not less) palatable… like the grain used to counteract the spicy salsa.   That is the response of the worthy parent… and the effective Seder leader.<\/p>\n

(Rabbi Joseph H. Prouser is the rabbi of Temple Emanuel of North Jersey and the National Chaplain of the National Jewish Committee on Scouting.)<\/em><\/p>\n

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