Passover is Coming
In just over two weeks time the 8-day festival of Pesach will be upon us. Each of us will be gathering together with our families, our friends, and our community to celebrate our freedom to be Jewish and commemorating the day when G‑d chose us as His people. And so now is the time to think about how we will make this year’s seders more meaningful. What thoughts and ideas will we share to create a warm atmosphere? How will we ensure that those gathered around the table feel this evening to be the important time it truly is?
All of us would like our children to feel proud of being Jewish. And although we cannot transfer a feeling directly, it is up to us to create an atmosphere which will engender and instill those Jewish values and emotions. Anyone I have ever met who cherished being Jewish, fondly reminisced about their grandmother lighting Shabbat candles, their grandfather presiding over the Shabbat table, and yes - their Seder.
You and I are the link in this chain. It is up to us to ensure that our children will dream about one day finding a Jewish spouse with whom to build a Jewish home and together create a beautiful seder for their own family. The next generation will not have the memories we have of our Yiddish-speaking grandparents who had a kosher kitchen. The only memories they will have are the ones we will create for them.
So during the seder this year encourage those around the table, and especially the children, to ask questions. (You might even create a reward system around the table with nuts or chocolates!) When someone asks a question, they will be more inclined to hear and absorb the answer.
We have more than two weeks remaining. And I encourage you to set aside the necessary time to read, study, and prepare yourself as best as possible. You can CLICK HERE for extensive, insightful reading material that will provide both a practical and spiritual guide to your seder and the holiday of Pesach.
The laws and customs of Passover are numerous and intricate. Please don’t hesitate to contact me via email or phone should you wish to discuss any aspect of this holiday. Whether it’s how to get rid of your chametz or where to purchase kosher for Passover cereal, someone at Chabad will be able to point you in the right direction.
If you prefer, you are cordially invited to participate in our seders where I can assure you, you will find much meaning, insight, and good food! CLICK HERE for more information.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Raleigh Resnick
