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THE FOUR QUESTIONS

Just then BARBRA STREISAND stands up:

BARBRA STREISAND

I’m sorry, I’m sorry, to, interrupt. But...I feel like I really need to say something. If I didn’t, I just couldn’t live with myself. I feel like some things, need to be said. Or, I wouldn't, I wouldn’t be being true to my roots, to my family, how I was raised, and what I try to teach the next generations.

I guess I’m saying I have some questions.

RICK RUBIN

Is it four questions by any chance? Would be great to stick to the custom of four questions if possible?

BARBRA STREISAND

What? Really, Rick?

She looks at Ye.

BARBRA STREISAND

I know, we’re supposed to, you know, be more, forgiving, of mental health issues, in, um, this day & age, but, in my generation, it wasn’t, you know, like, a free pass, to, I don’t know, if you have a public platform, bring out the worst in, some, um, very also, um, sick, people, is that, is that OK to say?

Everyone looks at Ye, he looks maybe a bit ashamed

RICK RUBIN

I think we actually can use The Four Questions to answer that question, Barbra! Tonight we ask: Why is this night different from all other nights? 1. On all other nights we can eat both Hametz and Matzah, but on this night, only Matzah. 2. On all other nights we eat other vegetables, but on this night, only bitter Maror. 3. On all other nights we don’t dip our vegetables into saltwater (Karpas) even once, but on this night, we do so twice. 4. On all other nights we eat sitting or reclining, but on this night, only reclining.

BARBRA STREISAND

What does this have to do with what I just asked?

RICK RUBIN

Going back to Michael L. Kagan’s teachings, the first question about Hametz versus Matzo helps us recognize that we are sometimes trapped as a slave to our Ego (Hametz) and its instinctual demands.

BARBRA STREISAND

Instinctual demands, huh, that’s what we’re calling this, you know, mentally ill, um, behavior now?

RICK RUBIN

The second question about Maror, instructs us to be willing to face the bitter truth (Maror) about ourselves. Of who we are and how we live our lives and our lies. And to practice telling our truth.

BARBRA STREISAND

So, as long as, um, mentally ill artists, keep singing about their mistakes, they can keep making them? Even if they really affect others?

RICK RUBIN

In the 3rd question about Karpas, we’d hope next we would step into the layers of pain that surround & perhaps produce that behavior & be willing to let the tears of that suffering flow (Karpas). So that the inner bitterness can be miraculously transformed by the sweetness of love & forgiveness (Maror dipped into Charoset). With reclining we let our over-judgmental selves rest. Release attachment to preconceptions & practice acts of loving-kindness, not judging our selves or others.

Streisand looks at Ye who, might just be, maybe… Ye looks at Streisand who, might just be, maybe…

BARBRA STREISAND

Does anyone mind accompanying me on something? I’d ask Stephen Sondheim but…Maybe the angels can send him & some clowns in?

Billy Joel nods, starts to play on the piano:

“Send in the Clowns”

BARBRA STREISAND

Isn't it rich? Aren’t we all a pair?

You there on the ground, Me superior, in the air

Where are the clowns?

Isn't it bliss? When we don’t approve?

We tear others down, Nothing for us to lose

Where are the clowns? Send in the clowns