Some musings this week, not well organized and with no conclusions.
Back in 2015, I wrote about the "Release your wrath" passage in the haggadah:
https://houseoutoffocus.blogspot.com/2015/03/release-your-wrath.html
I want to collect here some references of other thoughts about this passage.
First, some questions:
1. Is there agreement in modern haggadahs about when Elijah's cup is filled?
2. Is there agreement in modern haggadahs about when the 4th cup is filled?
Discussion of a simply inverted passage from curse to blessing, connections to searching for chametz:
https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/105867?lang=bi
Legitimacy of anger at injustice and oppression:
https://merrimackvalleyhavurah.wordpress.com/2020/06/02/pour-out-your-wrath-the-legitimacy-of-anger-at-injustice/
History of the passage:
https://images.shulcloud.com/634/uploads/Shabbat-Hagadol-2017-Cup-of-Wrath-Web-Edition.pdf
Perspectives from rabbis of different movements:
https://momentmag.com/ask-the-rabbis-should-jews-at-the-seder-ask-god-to-smite-our-enemies/
Someone who wants it removed entirely:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/offensive-liturgy-passove_b_521009
A response defending keeping it:
http://lady-light.blogspot.com/2010/04/pour-out-thy-wrath.html
I think it's worth looking at the entirety of Psalm 79, which provides context for the start of this passage extracted from Psalm 79. How different does this passage sound if you know the entire psalm? What is the right way to recognize that many people today do not have that context, and instead have the context of broad strokes history of recent and contemporary antisemitism and the horrors it has led to? Do we add explanation? Add context? Change the passage? Provide alternatives in the haggadah?
Do we point out the reasons why we might feel this passage in our bones? The reasons we might reject it? Do we point out that the passage asks for God to act, not for us to act on God's behalf? Is that any comfort to those who are distressed or repelled by the passage?
Do we hope to spark questions and discussion at the seder? If we do, what do we include in the haggadah to best accomplish this goal?
