Rabbi Michael Levy writes the following response, this opinion is his:
Releasing (or technically the searching for and subsequent removal and burning and nullification) of leaven is an obligation based in the Passover story itself:
Exodus 12:15 For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day you are to remove the leaven from your houses. Whoever eats anything leavened from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel. For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast.
Ahm Green in his presentation decides that it is more important for those of us with disabilities to have our own version of the ritual than it it is to actually have the age-old ACTUAL RITUAL performed by a shaliach (agent acting on behalf of the disabled person) who can accomplish it.
By presenting Green’s ritual without alternatives, JDIN conveys the impression that Green’s ritual is authentic, important, and accomplishes what is necessary.
In the interest of equity, it behooves JDIN to do the following:
Present not just the view of a person who feels that we might be “left out” and sad without our own version,
but at least one other view with practices for those of us closer to a tradition that is over 3400 years old.
I am a blind person, and cannot visually search for leaven. Since age 19, I have arranged for others to search for me. I can still recite the prescribed formula.
My late wife was a wheelchair user. She also made arrangements for others to accomplish the ritual for her.
Really lovely.
This is great. Thank you!
Rabbi Michael Levy writes the following response, this opinion is his:
Releasing (or technically the searching for and subsequent removal and burning and nullification) of leaven is an obligation based in the Passover story itself:
Exodus 12:15 For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day you are to remove the leaven from your houses. Whoever eats anything leavened from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel. For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast.
Ahm Green in his presentation decides that it is more important for those of us with disabilities to have our own version of the ritual than it it is to actually have the age-old ACTUAL RITUAL performed by a shaliach (agent acting on behalf of the disabled person) who can accomplish it.
By presenting Green’s ritual without alternatives, JDIN conveys the impression that Green’s ritual is authentic, important, and accomplishes what is necessary.
In the interest of equity, it behooves JDIN to do the following:
Present not just the view of a person who feels that we might be “left out” and sad without our own version,
but at least one other view with practices for those of us closer to a tradition that is over 3400 years old.
I am a blind person, and cannot visually search for leaven. Since age 19, I have arranged for others to search for me. I can still recite the prescribed formula.
My late wife was a wheelchair user. She also made arrangements for others to accomplish the ritual for her.