Fan Fiction

Newsletter April 10, 2022 Together, we're #keepingitsacred...

They say we’re the people of the book, but really we are the people of the question. The Jewish people love questions and even when we disagree with someone, we are supposed to phrase it in the form of a question, like some sort of Jeopardy-inspired challenge.

We love questions--especially during Passover. That’s why during the Seder we have four questions build right into the order of the service dictated by the Haggadah. We encourage people to ask what is on the Seder plate and what significance it has, and how each person makes personal meaning of the story that is meant to move us from feelings of oppression to the experience of freedom. 

Today, we will take time to ask lots and lots of questions of the Exodus story that inspired Passover through a form of ancient Hebrew literature known as midrash. You may think of midrash as fan fiction, or a writing practice that fills in the backstory behind the most famous encounters in the Torah. It’s a kind of rabbinic creative writing and it offers some great insights about the text- and also insights about those who pen these imaginations. 

For instance, did you ever think to ask the question of what Moses’ name was before he was drawn from the water and called Moses by Pharaoh”s daughter? What did Yocheved, Amram, Miriam, and Aaron call him for the first three months of his life, anyway?

Or what about the feelings that Amram and Yocheced must have had living under oppression in Egypt and also the decree to kill all firstborn males?

And how exactly did the midwives resist following Phaeaoh’s decree that they should kill all Israelite male babies? What was their plan and strategy?

Believe it or not, we actually have records of these questions being asked and answered by sages loving 2000 years ago and today we will explore these midrashim/imaginations that have human resonance and teachings of their own. Join us? Information at keepingitsacred.com/upcoming (and also below!). 

And never stop asking (and answering) these beautiful questions. 

This is how we keep it sacred. Together, we’re #keepingitsacred….

Rabbi Heather Miller

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

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The above is an excerpt from a Keeping It Sacred newsletter. If you want to read the entire newsletter or any from our archives, please head over to: keepingitsacred.com/news 

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Thanks for your interest, and thanks for #keepingitsacred...