By the time this edition of the Migdalor is released, we will be just about to enter the space for the חג האביב-The Spring Holiday, of Passover.  The planning and cleaning and cooking should all be done.  We are prepared to welcome the holiday, welcome our guests and even the unseen guest of Eliyahu haNavi.  The table is set and the Seder Plate is displaying all the signs of the holiday.  In this spirit I wanted to offer a few thoughts about Passover and no doubt we will be visiting some of them when we join together for 2nd Seder as a community.

In what is a bit of a surprise, Passover is the “most observed’ Jewish holiday.  It’s not Chanukah, not Shabbat or Yom Kippur, but Passover.  And by observed, I mean that more Jewish families pause and create an observance on Seder Night-לילא סדר, then any other observance.   I won’t pretend that all those observances are the sort that begin at sundown and go to midnight.  But in someway, shape or form, families mark the evening with the signs of the Passover holiday.  And engage in remembering the Exodus from Egypt.  Why Passover of all observances is the one most families take part in?  To me, there are several reasons.  First is it is a “home observance”.  We don’t go to shul, but we create the seder at home and invite others in to observe with us.  It’s acted out, that is to say, everyone at the table has a role to play, an action to preform.  It’s not the Rabbi or Cantor carrying the load, it’s everyone taking a part, from young children to adults.  It’s a day we recall prepping for and cleaning and cooking with our parents.  Oh who am I kidding? It’s all about helping mom prepare the house and kosher the house special for the holiday.  And finally, it’s all about the food.  All the special “Kosher for Passover” foods and meals.  Swapping flour and bread for matzah meal and matzah.  No fluffy food, everything is crunchy.  If you’ve been around me in recent weeks, you know, “Rabbi Ron does not like Matzah”.  This is true and on 2nd night seder, we will talk more about that.

I truly enjoy the Seder.  The gathering of family and friends, with the traditional ritual items, the best silverware and china-dishes, wine glasses and Seder plate, all in use and on display.  Seeing the elegant and  special glass for Eliyahu and in our modern times, the newer glass for Miriam the Prophetess-the finder of water.  The debate over the best recipe for Haroset?  Traditional Ashkenazi style with apples and raisins and walnuts, a time tested blend going back to the shtel in Poland and Ukraine??  Or the Sephardic style Judy makes with dates, figs, apricots and something spicy, in the spices, with roots going back to Syria, Yemen and Morocco? As a young boy, I remember biting into the Horse-Raddish root, causing real  tears in my eyes and my nose running, I suddenly understood how a dragon could breathe fire.  Drinking the 4 cups of wine and recalling G1ds promises to the people of Israel, the lighting of the candles to sanctify time.  I enjoy seeing my grandchildren reciting the 4 questions.  It makes me recall my own feelings and fears of being 8yrs old.  Wanting to do well, wanting to impress my father and so very afraid to chant in Hebrew in front of everyone.  It is a night of questions and yet a night where often the questions are not directly answered.  I love the discussions and discovering the multitude of ideas and points of view around the table.  Discussing the deep matters of ‘what is freedom’?  And ‘what am I a slave to’?   At the end, singing the Passover songs, in my family we mostly sing in the key of “off”.  But we do love to sing and enjoy.  That final moment at the very end, where we make the special declaration of “לשנה הבא בירושלים”-Next Year in Jerusalem.

My friends, Judy joins me in wishing everyone a joyful and meaningful Passover.  May peace come to ארץ ישראל and the entire world.

Rabbi Ron