* Translation by Yehoshua Siskin
The following is one of the most beautiful stories I have ever heard.
It concerns Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, who was one of the greatest rabbis, scholars, and halachic authorities of this generation.
As Pesach approached, when asked what should be taught to kindergarten children, the Rav would say: “Teach them that chometz is chometz.”
He would then explain this seemingly obvious thought. We speak at length how chometz represents the evil inclination, pride, and ego, how matzah symbolizes simplicity and humility while bread is all puffed up. We speak about getting rid of our internal chometz and this is all wonderfully correct, but first of all — chometz is chometz.
We must teach little children about bread and pita crumbs, that these must be removed from their homes before Pesach, and that it is forbidden to eat them during Pesach. We need to begin from the foundation, from the explicit mitzvah as it is written in the Torah.
Later on it will be possible and even recommended to elevate the discussion and to add commentary and deeper meaning.
Sometimes we are so eager to look for profound and symbolic meanings that we forget the main concept. Whether this concerns children’s education, marriage, or faith, before we try to interpret and to extract deeper meaning, it is essential that we simply begin with what we are supposed to do.
May we all find success in keeping it simple.
