Tonight begins the holiday of Passover. And, since tonight also begins the Sabbath, the celebrations will be just a little longer. And, a little bit more celebratory.
Interestingly, other than Rosh Hashana and Yom Kipur, Pesach is the one holiday that most Jews celebrate. Oh, sure Chanuka comes close, but most Jewish folks still don’t light the menora.
Even those Jews that don’t keep kosher still gather with their families and friends to re-tell the story of our release from bondage and servitude in Egypt. The English name for this holiday reminds one that the Supreme Being passed over the houses of those that had the courage to place the blood of the paschal lamb on their doorpost. (The placing of the blood on the door jamb is the origin of the practice for Jewish homes to have a mezuza on their doors. The mezuza reminds us that we are willing to be counted, to ask Hashem to protect us from the vagaries of life.)
Placing the mark on the door was a courageous act. After all, the lamb was one of the deities of the Egyptians. As such, slaying the lamb and using its blood as a marker on the door clearly defied the common beliefs. Only those that were willing to do so were protected from the deaths of their first born.
This holiday also reminds us that the cruel Pharaoh of the Pesach story was a murderer. The Pharaoh must have killed his older brother to take control of the kingdom. Because he was not among those killed that night. (The power of the kingdom always transferred to the first-born, if they are still living.)
And, once this tenth plague devastated Egypt, the populace allowed the Jews to leave, ostensibly on their three-day holiday to praise Hashem. But, the Jews knew they would never return- instead returning to their land, the land of milk and honey…
My family will all be joining me- three generations now. As will our friends. We’ll be going strong for hours, reciting the story of our release from bondage, singing songs, adding commentary- a learning, eating, and singing celebration. My eldest daughter won’t let us continue until the crow reminds it is already the next morning, but we will vigorously sing this special song…
Next year in Jerusalem…
The version of this song is new- “ha benuya’ means the rebuilt. Obviously, that only happened after the 6 day war. (I learned it as ha-beera, the capital)
May you all celebrate this holiday of Spring, this holiday of Freedom, this holiday that we celebrate our traditions…
Sounds like a wonderful celebration, Roy! Glad you’ll be with family.
Hope you have a great Easter, Jeanine!
You are right about the “touchpoints” with our religious tradition for those like me who are normally not observant but it’s been many years since I’ve been with my family in Brooklyn for Passover. A post that has made me thoughtful.
Glad I could provide some points to ponder, Alana!
I pray you and yours will have a meaningful Passover. It sounds like you’ll have a full house. I love this post. I did not know that lambs were sacred to the Egyptians. That adds a lot to the story. You’re a born teacher.
Bonnie Anderson recently posted..Easter Weekend – Good Friday
Thanks, Bonnie- hope your Easter celebration has you surrounded by your loved ones.
I just taught this in Sunday School. The kids always have a ton of questions. I did not know a lamb was an Egyptian deity. Thank you and have a blessed Sabbath.
You, too, Rob- and a great Easter holiday, too.
I enjoy learning about the holidays and how they are celebrated for different religions. Thanks for sharing, thinking of you and your family as you celebrate Passover. How wonderful to have 3 generations together.
Thanks, Martha. Hope your Easter is grand, too!
Thank you for this beautiful post!
Last night, for our Maundy Thursday meal and gathering, several of the Jewish/Jewish heritage members of our ecumenical Christian congregation put together a lovely Seder, a “dinner and dialogue event” with about 50 in attendance (including children, several of whom read parts).
Dr Jenn Williams, a religious studies professor at our liberal arts college invited her TA, who is Jewish (and told me this was one of the briefest Seders she’s attended!) Jenn’s husband is our children’s minister, and both their kiddos attended. Song, stories, candles, sharing, …
We ended with the traditional blessing, and a prayer for freedom of all peoples.
Nadya King recently posted..Emerging with Wonder
Glad you had the opportunity to experience a lovely Seder- and discern from where your tradition derived.