The Fifth Step: Four Profound Answers
So if ‘questions create’ (see previous entry), then what do answers do?
In a word, answers evolve – and you will later clarify.
Answers evolve an idea, and in Jewish contexts there is never really one answer, and it’s hard to evolve an idea too far. Even if your first answer is true, Jewish wisdom teaches that there can be more than one true answer, while imploring us to find them. One of my favorite teachings about this is from Rabbi David Wolkenfeld, who says:
“The opposite of a truth is a lie. But the opposite of a profound truth is another profound truth.”
At Passover, we are insisted upon to expand our thinking beyond a simple answer. Remember, even the ‘four questions’ is really just one question with four true answers. Every story, ritual, and food interrogates the idea of freedom through our lived experience. We can see this in eating the Seder foods, in relating to four purposeful glasses of wine, and even when we invite an invisible man to the table (hi, Elijah!). The Passover seder is not about one truth, but many profound truths.
The Jewish wisdom tradition insists that you find four different true answers to the one question that is guiding your journey this season to a more expansive perspective and lived experience. Get your question now, start developing your answers now, because this journey will culminate in a matter of weeks.
Here’s a couple of examples of what that might sound like for you:
Question: What makes this night different from all other nights?
Answers:
Tonight we eat matzah, usually we don’t.
Tonight we eat bitter herbs, usually we don’t.
Tonight we dip veggies twice, usually we don’t.
Tonight we eat and recline, usually we don’t.
Question: What can I do to find more love and companionship in my life?
Answers:
This week I’m going to put myself out there more, dating apps, nights out with friends, everything.
Tonight I’m going to make a list of 5 people I want to reconnect with and text them to check-in.
They say that you gotta love yourself first, tonight I’m going to do something to make me proud of me, usually I don’t.
This week I’m going to make an invite list of 8 people I want to have a Friendseder dinner with.
Question: How can I find more moments of freedom in my life?
Answers:
This week I’m going to meditate 15-20 minutes for 2x a day. I used to do this regularly and I feel so much more relaxed and my mind feels free when I do!
If it’s nice outside, I’m going to take a walk during my work phone call this week to get outside. Even if I don’t make it far (because I’m a wuss when it comes to the cold!), being in nature is healing and gives me a real sense of freedom.
This week I will change the way I think about productivity. So many times during the week I feel imprisoned by my endless to-do list. This week, I will think about how I’m spending my time in order to give myself more energy and spaciousness.
Tonight, a flight I’m taking is delayed which is the perfect opportunity to start organizing my taxes. It won’t take me very long once I get started and I’ll feel so proud and FREE once it’s done :)
Remember, your first round of articulating your question and trying to find your ‘four profound truths’ is just that - a first draft. The path to your profound answers is a process, requires editing, and can be shared. The journey to freedom and friendship happens with friends; and can you imagine - will you imagine for a moment - what transformation would create for you?
Happy asking and answering and looking forward to this journey together,
Rabbi Jeff