During the Passover seder, when we dip the parsley in saltwater at the seder table, we can use this act, this tradition, this ritual, as an opportunity to free ourselves from grief. Just as we retell the story of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt, we should retell the stories of our own ancestors.
As we pass the bowl of saltwater around the table, each one of us is asked to share a story, a brief but fond memory of a loved one who is no longer with us. The memory can be a happy one, a sad one, or just a moment in time to recall and share.
The saltwater symbolizes the tears shed by generations of Jewish people. While we are encouraged to shed our tears, we should not shed our memories. We should hold onto them dearly. For they are what bind us to the past and connect one generation to another, l’dor vador.
If desired, the leader can share this short reading as a prompt to encourage participation from those seated around the seder table:
Tonight we remember Moses, Miriam and others as we read from the Haggadah. Let us turn grief into gratitude. As each of you dip your vegetable into the saltwater, I invite you to share a brief memory of your own mishpocha, a beloved family member, who is no longer with us. May their wisdom be an inspiration, their love a guiding light, and may their memory be a blessing.
