Let us bless the flow of life
that revives us, sustains us,
and brings us to this time.
—Marcia Falk
The moon of Nisan
in PassoverPassover is a major Jewish holiday that commemorates the Jewish people's liberation from slavery and Exodus from Egypt. Its Hebrew name is Pesakh. Its name derives from the tenth plague, in which God "passed over" the homes of the Jewish firstborn, slaying only the Egyptian firstborn. Passover is celebrated for a week, and many diaspora Jews celebrate for eight days. The holiday begins at home at a seder meal and ritual the first (and sometimes second) night. Jews tell the story of the Exodus using a text called the haggadah, and eat specific food (matzah, maror, haroset, etc). sky
rises to fullest
a blossom of silver
on the night different
from all other nights.
The HaggadahLit. "Telling.” The haggadah is the book used at the seder table on Passover to tell the story of the Exodus, the central commandment of the holiday. It is rich in song, prayer, and legend. There are many different version of the Haggadah produced throughout Jewish history. moon
revives
shehekheyanu
the flow of freedom
from pharaoh-enslavement
to sederLit. Order. The festive meal conducted on Passover night, in a specific order with specific rituals to symbolize aspects of the Exodus from Egypt. It is conducted following the haggadah, a book for this purpose. Additionally, there an ancient tradition to have a seder on Rosh Hashanah, which has been practiced in particular by Sephardi communities. This seder involves the blessing and eating of simanim, or symbolic foods. The mystics of Sefat also created a seder for Tu B'shvat, the new year of the trees. joy.
The moon of Juneteenth
two months later
also rising full
with message as well
sustains
ve’kiyemanu
the feel of freedom.
the feel of freedom.
Though bondage,
with other names,
continues to burn
nulling equality
writ into law.
Thus, a new name created
for a new day
with no escape
if justice drowns
in waters lying ahead.
A day to return
to the pain of the past
yet bring to this time
ve’higianu lazman hazeh
promise for all
with moons of freedom
blessing the nights.
