Ever since I was a kid, I was enamored by the meaning of Passover
Ever since I was a kid, I was enamored by the meaning of Passover. I loved its celebration of family, history and the spring. For many, Pesach is primarily about gathering with loved ones for the Seders.
There is also the ancient tradition of chanting Hallel, psalms of gratitude, each day of the festival. In addition to special foods, the holiday is also filled with delicious selections from the Torah, the Prophets and the Book of Writings. This Shabbat we read the delightful poetry of the Song of Songs.
After the first day of Pesach we begin the period of the Omer, 49 days of deepening our awareness of ourselves and our world, culminating in receiving the Torah at Sinai and the festival of Shavuot. Each day is counted. Each day counts. Wonderful teachings and practices are available to us for personal enrichment through the Musar and Kabbalistic traditions. See below in Learning Opportunities and Spiritual Resources.
On each of the Shabbatot during these weeks I fondly recall studying with my rabbi and others in shul the Ethics of the Sages, Pirkey Avot, a short collection of wisdom and ethical teachings from the Mishna. You are invited to join me and other hevre in exploring these teachings in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned!
These practices, along with the renewal we see in nature, aside from allergies, give us meaning and hope. This season we will be able, once again, to get together with our loved ones. Last week, at the Seder, our son’s family came over, and, for the first time in over a year we embraced and kissed each other. Shir Hashirim, the Song of Songs, still lives.
May we, in this season of renewal, be empowered, even more so, to address injustices and inequities in our world.
Moadim L’Simchah! L’Refuat HaOlam,
Reb David