We now know Lot’s wife as a woman named Idit, who turns not out of disobedience to God but out of compassion for her daughters, who are following her. The pillar of salt is her tears.
Place a container of salt next to Elijah’s Cup in remembrance of Idit. As you open the door to invite both ElijahElijah is a biblical prophet who is said never to have died. There are therefore many legends associated with Elijah. In the Talmud, unresolved arguments will be resolved when Elijah comes. He will herald the coming of the messiah. In Jewish ritual, Elijah is a liminal figure, arriving at moments of danger and transition – at a brit milah, a chair is put out for him, a cup is poured for Elijah at the Passover seder, and he is invoked at havdalah. His Hebrew name is Eliyahu. and Idit to your family table, lift the container of salt and add these words to sh’foch chamatcha:
We remember Idit—once known only as Lot’s wife—
Who wept at the destruction of her enemies.
This is the salt of her tears.
“Our eyes run with tears,
Our pupils flow with water” (Jeremiah 9:17).
We remember Idit—once known only for her act of disobedience—
Who turned out of compassion for life destroyed.
This is the salt of her tears.
Welcome, Idit, to our 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..
Teach us deeds of lovingkindness.
Hodu la’adonay ki tov, ki l’olam hasdo.
Give thanks to the Eternal who is good, whose lovingkindness
endures forever.
Yomar na yisrael, ki l’olam hasdo.
Let all IsraelLit. ''the one who struggles with God.'' Israel means many things. It is first used with reference to Jacob, whose name is changed to Israel (Genesis 32:29), the one who struggles with God. Jacob's children, the Jewish people, become B'nai Israel, the children of Israel. The name also refers to the land of Israel and the State of Israel. say, “God’s lovingkindness endures forever.”
Yomru na yirey adonoy, ki l’olam hasdo.
Let all in awe of God declare, “God’s lovingkindness endures
forever.
