Passover is just such a great celebration. You get to 'party' for 2 nights in a row ! Now...technically Passover is a 'festival', not a holiday. There are only 3 festivals in Judaism...Passover is one of them. All the rest are 'holidays'.
Last night we had our Temple seder where a large part of the congregation gathered to re-tell the Passover story. You got the serious version yesterday. Todays' version is my more lighthearted one !!!
everything starts with the wine you know. It represents 'sanctification' (making holy). There are 4 cups of wine placed on the Passover table. The second cup represents history. The third cup is about thanksgiving
and the fourth is hope. There is an extra cup of wine laid out for
Elijah, the great prophet.
when it comes to wine one must have a good sense of humor !
and lots of food...homemade chopped liver for instance ! More Connie, more !
and we insist on kids having a great time
they recite "The Four Questions" together
and families participate together
toasting with Rabbi Susman and Esther, our musical director. I told you...it's all about the wine.
and checking out the ritual foods on a beautiful seder plate
and, what would Passover be without Matzah...the 'bread of affliction'..Oy ! This is real homemade matzah...not terribly delicious by any means. Just give me the boxed, store bought kind any day !
Miriams Cup
Miriam's Cup is a new ritual item. It is used because of Miriam's
association with water and, as we know, water is the essence of life. `Miriam helped lead the people out of Egypt as the Red Sea
parted and as the people were in the desert she found wells. The Exodus
could not have occurred without Miriam.
Leave it to a woman to get things done !
and, of course Matzah Ball soup again. When you come to New York or New Jersey for a visit you can walk into any diner (we're famous for our diners) and get delicious Matah Ball soup with your lunch. Yes Sir !!!
and families together
and the people in the kitchen who made it all possible
Chocolate covered matzah, jellyrings, macaroons...I love Passover desserts. I'll just take an extra cholesterol pill !!!
after 4 hours we all parted ways and wished each other 'CHAG SEMEACH' (KHAHG sah-MEHY-ahkh ) which, in Hebrew means 'joyous holiday'......even tho it's a festival....oh well...you get it !
Now..it's back to work....