[HANASHIR:8731] Re: Teaching Chad Gadya

[Freedabet <Freedabet...>]

I found another explanation which also explains the verses in terms of 
Kingdoms, but starts with the creation of the world.  This explanation found 
at http:/www.nerncsy.org/publications/pesach/pes_4.html.

Michael

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> Date: Wednesday, 28-Mar-01 05:30 PM
> 
> From: LSalvay (at) aol(dot)com          \ America Online: (LSALVAY)
> To:   Hanashir Mail Server     \ Internet:    (hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org)
> 
> Subject:  [HANASHIR:8682] Re: Teaching Chad Gadya
> 
> Sender: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Reply-to:       hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> To:     hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Adam et al,
> Regarding the meaning of Chad Gadya -- yes, it is elusive, and no, I would 
> not begin to expect preschoolers (or even elementary schoolers) to 
comprehend 
> its symbolism. But it's a first step -- teaching it to "the son who does 
not 
> know how to ask," as someone suggested. And, if it inspires questioning, 
then 
> it has fulfilled its purpose at the Seder.
> 
> According to "A Family Haggadah II" by Shoshana Silberman (KAR-BEN COPIES, 
> 1997) and corroborated by other annotated haggadot, the song's meaning is 
as 
> follows:
> 
> "Chad Gadya is an allegory describing Israel's history. The kid is Israel, 
> purchased with 2 zuzim, the 2 tablets of the law. Next is a list of 
Israel's 
> oppressors: the cat is Assyria; the dog, Babylonia; the stick, Persia; the 
> fire, Greece; the water, Rome; the ox, the Saracens; the butcher, the 
> Crusaders; the Angel of Death, the Ottomans. But the song ends with an 
> expression of hope, that the Holy One will bring peace and eternal life to 
> the people of Israel."
> 
> In short, I explain the song to my students (of any age) as meaning that 
God 
> is powerful over even the most powerful person or thing on earth. And it is 
> God's ultimate power that has enabled the Jews to survive, even after all 
> these other oppressors have been "swallowed up." (And isn't that the story 
of 
> Pesach, after all?)
> 
> Meanwhile, I want to express my thanks to all of you who responded with 
such 
> thoughtful and supportive comments on the merits of teaching Chad Gadya to 
> young children. It's truly wonderful to know that as Jewish music teachers 
> and songleaders, we're "all in this together," and that what we do and how 
we 
> do it (and how we think about it) can bolster the efforts of our peers 
across 
> the country (and around the world.)
> 
> However, I must tell you that the director of the JCC preschool called me 
> today to tell me that she polled the veteran teachers at the school, and 
they 
> all felt that Chad Gadya was inappropriate for preschoolers. Therefore, I 
> have been asked to cease teaching it (although I will teach it this Sunday 
at 
> Religious School at my synagogue, just as I have done for the last 12 years 
> with no negative reactions.)  Needless to say, I'm more than a little 
> dismayed -- but if it's pablum they want, I guess I'm obligated to provide 
> it. (And I wonder how much longer I'll be teaching at this preschool...)
> 
> Thanks again to all,
> Linda Salvay
> Prairie Village, KS 
> (metro Kansas City) 
> 
> 
> 
> 

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