The strength of Judaism over the centuries has been fueled by our capacity to ask meaningful questions. At our very inception as a nation we were taught how to ask. The night of Pesach is described as the time, "When your son will ask you" (Shemot 3:14). And this inquiry process is not limited to children. Even someone who sits alone is required to question themselves. Why?
A slave is programmed never to question. Consequently, our first step towards freedom is precisely that.
Nobel Laureate, Isidor Isaac Rabi (1898-1988), was once asked what motivated his academic success. He answered, "My mother never asked me, Izzy what did you learn today, she would only ask, Izzy did you ask any good questions today. That made all the difference."
Rabbi Berel Wein once commented that sadder than the child who does not know how to ask is the child who is not allowed to ask. Deep within each of us is a thirst for answers but that thirst can only be quenched if we can formulate the right questions. Asking the right questions isn't easy but it's been the key to Jewish growth for over three millennia.
Questions anyone?
