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I hope that your Passover Sedarim were joyous, meaningful and delicious. Ours were, and I’m grateful. I felt a bit more nostalgic, recalling Sedarim from my childhood, earlier adulthood when our entire family gathered in our home, and the gatherings here in Pittsburgh. The list of memories would be far longer than space allows, and I couldn’t select a top ten. It made me wonder if not only does this happen at other Sedarim, as I have a suspicion that the answer would be “yes”, but what is it about the Passover Seder that engenders far more recall than any other Jewish holiday? Certainly when people break bread, well, matzah to be accurate, conversation becomes a natural part of the experience. The Passover Seder is intended to be a conversation about the Exodus from Egypt, but there is far more, that unnamed ingredient that distinguishes the Seder from all other gatherings, rituals and celebrations.  

I don’t think that it’s one specific element, such as matzah or maror. Rather, I think the genius of the Seder is the Seder, as there exists no meal like it that combines the elements of a special book, rituals and celebrations, foods, songs, Q&A, rabbinic exegesis, and space for innovation through new readings and rituals that reflect the events of the day. There is an inherent brilliance to the Seder, a creativity borne from its authors that somehow had a profound faith that a heretofore new type of ritual that they created would not only be successful, but meet God’s mandate to teach this story to our children. Little did they know that this would become the most frequently observed Jewish ritual according to most surveys that I have seen, and according to the Jewish Book Council, as of April 3, 2020, 3,000 different editions of the Haggadah have been published. The variety in ritual objects that one can purchase to enhance the table, from Seder plates, Afikoman bags, matza trays and Kiddush cups is remarkable. The growth of the kosher wine industry has also moved us from the singular sweet Concord grape to world class, award-winning choices. The continuous evolution of the Seder through the introduction of new rituals demonstrates that the Seder is not a stagnant set of rituals. I have published for many years a modest list of on-line resources that offer fresh, new readings, songs, recipes and rituals. I think that the level of unbridled, nonstop creativity insofar as the Seder is concerned shows the strength of a Judaism that continues to flourish. 

I received a text message from a gentile politician wishing me a Shabbat Shalom and Hag Sameach V’kasher. How very cool that I received these greetings in Hebrew! How beautiful that our Governor had the kitchens of the Governor’s mansion kashered and held a Seder there. How equally traumatic that the same space was firebombed hours later. We are grateful that no one was physically injured. It would be easy for us to make assumptions on the cause in the absence of facts as of this writing. Other than an expression of animus towards the governor, that is all we know. Yet I can understand how easy it is to assume that this was an act of antisemitism despite no evidence.  Until the facts are clear, we should not assume anything, but yet this act has reintroduced fear into our community. We have experienced this before, and I’d like to think that we have acquired the right tools in our toolbox to cope with our feelings. But sometimes that is not enough. That is where community and its resources become important. If you are nervous, worried or fearful, rest assured you are not alone. I’m here for you; just reach out to me. The 10.27 Healing Partnership and JFCS are here for you.  And even better, come to services. There is always something reassuring and uplifting when we gather as one, to worship together through song, and to embrace each other in our shared concerns. It can be restorative and enervating to be with your Tree of Life Congregation family.  Join us this coming Friday evening, Shabbat and Sunday, as we conclude Passover as one congregation doing what we have learned to do before: hold each other up.  Warning: Be prepared to get a hug from me if you need it.