I wrote this in 2009 but nothing has changed, it’s a decent post so, I’ll repost it for you. It’s about Passover which begins at sundown tomorrow. This is the first Passover I’ve celebrated without my mother. Well, that’s not exactly true, she didn’t join us last year but she was alive, at least. Passover is one of my favorite holidays because of the memories.
Anyways…like I said, this post was written in April of 2009. It still holds true. Happy Passover.
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Tonight, at sundown, Passover begins.
Tonight, Jews all over the world celebrate our liberation from the Pharaoh.
Tonight, we have a Seder with the retelling of the story of Moses and his life as a Prince. And his life as a leader of the enslaved Jews he led out of Egypt and into Israel, The Promised Land.
Tonight, we talk of how many have tried to exterminate or enslave the Jews. But have failed. Because of our strength as a people. As a culture.
We will talk of the plagues brought upon Egypt.
We will sing songs.
We will laugh and drink wine.
Our children will watch and wait for Elijah to come and drink the wine from our front porches. And they will search the house for the Afikomen in hopes of winning the coins.
All over the world, we are preparing our homes to bring in Passover, in whatever capacity our families observe it.
We cook our Passover foods.
We set our Seder tables.
We bring out our finest china and silverware and crystal.
We garnish our Seder plates with the bitter herb, the lamb shank, the egg, the matzo…
We are busily preparing to share this holiday with our closest family and friends.
It’s tradition.
It’s our culture.
And this is the one holiday that makes me really feel my Jewishness. It’s the one holiday that always has. Because, Passover was always more about family being together and enjoying each other. And to me, that is really, the true essence of being Jewish.
Family. And close friends. And the importance of togetherness. And respect.
Passover has always been my favorite of all our holidays. My fondest holiday memories are those of Passover Seder at my grandparents apartment, playing with my cousins in the basement. My grandfathers leading of the Seder. And my grandmothers cooking of food with WAY too much garlic.
And I hope…
That my children will look back, when they are my age…
And they will smile widely at their memories of Passover Seders.
And they will be proud to be part of this beautiful religion. And this amazing culture.
The way that I am.
To all my friends…
Whether you celebrate Passover or Easter or any other holiday or tradition this time of year…may it be happy and healthy!
image: google until tomorrow when I take a picture of my own seder table.