On 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)., we ask,
“Why is this night different from all other nights?”
But on Passover 5782/2022, I think,
“Why is this 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. The mystics of Sefat also created a seder for Tu B'shvat, the new year of the trees. different from all previous Seders?”
This year we have someone new joining our Seder table.
He is my precious newborn grandson.
He will hear the beautiful energy of our singing and praying
In Hebrew, Aramaic, and English.
He will hear the rhythm of our speech
And experience the joy in our voices and on our faces.
He will feel the love,
And what will he do?
He will breathe,
One miraculous, life-giving breath after another.
As I lovingly hold him,
He will look into my eyes
With intense concentration.
Maybe he will smile
Or make his lovely baby sounds.
And I will gaze back at him
With total adoration
And pray that his future
Will be filled with moments like this,
A lifetime of glorious moments
Feeling loved by family and dear friends
And enriched by his Judaism.
Dayeinu!
One Response
Joyous, enhancing. Seeing the next generation of life unfold, embraced by love and tradition. Here’s to your identity, sweet child.