Passover is upon us once again. Beginning the night of April 23, we join with Jews around the world for a week of rejoicing.
Ask Jews which is their favorite holiday and many, perhaps most, will name Pesach. That’s not surprising, as Passover is a time for family, for feasting and for marking the most momentous event in Jewish history: the Exodus from Egypt, the miracle at Sinai and the passing into freedom.
Passover never gets old. The holiday traditions — the seder meal, the familiar songs, the week of eating matzah — grow only more comforting with the years.
The importance of teaching our children the lessons of Passover imbue the holiday with even more meaning. Nothing beats watching our kids read the Four Questions. Then that sad day comes when our kids are no longer the youngest at the seder table. Thus begins the long wait for grandchildren to take their turn.
Of course, Passover has meaning beyond our immediate family. On Passover, we are indeed echad: one.
It’s a time of solidarity with Jews from all times, all places. At the seder table, we remember not only the Israelites of Moses’ day, but some also light six candles in memory of victims of the Shoah (one for each million). We think of our brothers and sisters in Israel, in Argentina, in France, in Morocco, wherever they may be living today at risk of physical harm or privation.
And most importantly, we experience both the long sweep of human history and the timeless bond between God and the Jewish people. This is why we come back year after year to hear the story again.
That and mom’s brisket.
There’s another moment in the seder we especially enjoy. The opening of the door, both to allow “all who are hungry” to come and eat, and to await the arrival of Elijah. Some families have fun with this tradition, having Uncle Fred waltz in as Elijah wearing a fright wig.
But there is something quintessentially Jewish about waiting for Elijah to come year after year. It bespeaks of the bright optimism hardwired into the Jewish soul. Elijah may never come. Then again, he might.
These are scary times for Jews. European and Muslim anti-Semitism is way up. Though there are auspicious signs in the Middle East, Israel remains on edge. Things could go either way.
But this week, it’s time to accentuate the positive at our seder tables. So let’s raise a glass — let’s raise four of them — to Jewish survival during this, our festival of freedom. We deserve it.