by Avi West
This Fourth of July commemorates 234 years of the noble experiment we call the United States of America. Most Jews recognize as kindred spirits those who founded this nation, and can appreciate their founding documents as sacred texts.
We can hear the echoes from Genesis, where humans are created "in the image of God," in the words from the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
We can hear the echoes of our sages' preoccupation with tzedek, righteousness, and the mission of tikkun olam, repairing the world, within the mandate of the Constitution: "We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty É "
It is enough to make us, the recipients of such great freedom and opportunity as individuals and as Jews, run through the streets in fulfillment of the verse from Leviticus 25:10 (and on the Liberty Bell), "Proclaim liberty throughout the land, for all of its inhabitants!" However, most of us will celebrate by watching parades, listening to concerts, flying the flag, watching fireworks and eating the ritual barbecue in the backyard or at the beach.
But is there another way to celebrate?
We may find some useful models from our own "July 4," the birthday of the Jewish nation, more popularly known as Pesach. It, too, is a holiday celebrating freedom and redemption from tyranny, eventually leading to the establishment of the Israelite state.
The Pesach seder is one of the most choreographed nights of the calendar, and much of it can be adapted for a Fourth of July celebration. Ritual -- hot dogs, hamburgers (and veggie burgers), apple pie, etc. -- can all evoke stories from our youth that illustrate values of family, freedom and community.
The songs and hymns section of the Haggadah can be modeled through the singing of the "Star-Spangled Banner" and "America the Beautiful."
I would also recite the Emma Lazarus poem "The New Colossus" to remember how many "wandering Arameans" found refuge here. You may also challenge the family and friends gathered to create a "Dayeinu" song of thanksgiving appropriate to the history of Jews in America.
The bad news is that it will become more difficult to distinguish the Jewish narrative from the American one; and there are real differences between some of the values that pervade modern America and those of our Jewish heritage. Bill Berkson of Mentsh.com points to two "unbalanced" views of human relations found in American culture and media: one, the Christian tradition equating goodness with selfless devotion to others, and, two, the popular "looking out for No. 1" adage that puts everyone in a competitive relationship.
Berkson contrasts this with Hillel's famous ethical balance beam, "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But when I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?"
The conflict in American traditions, and the contrasts with Jewish traditions, may be the perfect symposium to use as the dialogue/discussion part of a Fourth of July seder.
Coming as it does during the reflective month of Tammuz, kicking off the season of Av, Elul and the High Holidays in Tishrei, we can hope that families would reflect on their behavior and priorities, crafting a plan that lets them pursue their Jewish obligations and freedoms, while enabling others to find life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Avi West directs the Shulamith Reich Elster Resource Center at the Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning.
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