Think & Reflect:
As Passover comes to an end, we should take time to think about what place ritual has in our lives. Certainly this holiday is filled with many rituals and traditions and we Jews tend to pick and choose the ways we observe. Is that wrong? Some may say that rituals are like habits – we just do them. However the real challenge is to question the ritual even while you are doing it – at least think about it before you give it up.
Somewhere during the week of Passover, all of us have longed for something not on the Passover aisle. That thought hopefully makes us reflect on our reasons for denying ourselves. It is in the thought at the moment that we find meaning in the choices we have. Some of the best conversations we have with our children (and ourselves) on making choices come at this time of desiring something we could have but shouldn’t. The lessons of Passover center around freedom and the freedom to choose is one of the most important.
Questions to Ponder
The big questions from our reflection is what rituals we will continue or perhaps start during this Passover? What meaning can we take from the food we cannot eat? What about the food we can eat? Why is food so central in our celebrations and memories? There is an irreverent guide to Jewish holidays detailing what to eat and what not to eat on each – what does that focus teach us??
Do & Share
What are the traditions your family has for the end of Passover? There is a traditional Maghrebi Jewish celebration that takes places in Morocco, Israel, France, Canada and even places in the U.S.called Mimouna. It marks the return to eating chametz.
Check it out here: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/maimouna-a-post-passover-celebration/
For kids, you can also read the new PJ Library book (also at Amazon) titled: A Sweet Meeting on Mimouna Night” by Allison Ofanansky.
A Challenge for a Week (or longer)
As you put away your Passover boxes, write a note of things you want to do next Passover and place it in one of the boxes. Do it now and next year when you are getting ready, the note will serve as a reminder!
Laura Seymour | Camp Director Emeritus | Jewish Experiential Learning Director
