“Next year in Jerusalem!” Like so many of you, I found that phrase and the entire Seder both more meaningful and more challenging this year. After all, our hearts and minds are with Israel, with the hostages, with our family members, and friends who have been affected since October 7th…..we have all been affected since October 7th.
Last year when we said, “Next year in Jerusalem,” I thought it would be taken literally for me. I was supposed to be on a trip this past December with local educators, but of course, that trip was never able to run. I am supposed to go back for a different trip this December and I can only hope that this time the words spoken at the Seder are meant literally for me, for real this time.
There is something about a Passover Seder that creates memories and reflection simultaneously. So many of us have fun stories and memories of being at various Seders in our lives. As we get older, we also tend to spend time reflecting on those who used to be at our Seder tables and now play a prominent role in the storytelling of those memories. If I had to sum up Passover in one word for me, it would be “tradition.”
Growing up, I remember having 50 or more people in our home for Seder. My mom working at the University of Kansas, she would always invite students who did not have anywhere else to go to come to our house. We would bring together strangers at the beginning of the night who would all leave as friends by the end. I don’t know if it’s the songs, the food, or the company, but something has always been special about the Passover Seder for me.
We all have special moments that we think of during the holiday of Passover. Even those who proclaim this to be their “least favorite holiday EVER,” can surely share some stories of memories that they might have. As I end this article wishing all of you a Chag Sameach, I also challenge you to share with us and with each other the stories that stick in your mind of celebrating the holiday. These stories may be of recent years (zoom Seders in 2020 that we may or may not want to forget) or they may be the core memories that stay with us forever. Either way, this Passover, as our hearts and minds are praying for peace in the Middle East, let’s also take a moment to hug and appreciate the loved ones in our lives who come to mind when we think of Passover.
Shabbat Shalom,
Matt Rissien