If you've been following this blog at all for the past couple of weeks, you've noticed the #blogExodus series, which took over in the time just before Passover. The inspiration for that series came from Rabbi Phyllis Sommer. She writes an interesting blog on Jewish parenting, by a Reform rabbi who is also a mother … Continue reading Please Pray for Superman Sam
Tag: Rabbi Phyllis Sommer
#blogExodus – Being
I guess I shouldn't be surprised that I'm posting this on the first day of Chol Hamo'ed instead of on the eve of the holiday, as planned. There was no computer time on Monday. My Seders were wonderful, full of love and laughter and learning and good food. My children are now old enough to … Continue reading #blogExodus – Being
#blogExodus – Changing
This will be a very short blog post, because today I am changing my kitchen over. There will be much cleaning of appliances and counters. The latter will be covered with fresh contact paper. I will kasher the sink and the oven, bring up selected Passover dishes from the basement, and start my cooking. I … Continue reading #blogExodus – Changing
#blogExodus – Redeeming
The Passover Haggadah tells us that the redemption from Egypt did not only happen to our ancestors, but to us, personally. Just as the Sages tell us that we, personally, stood at Sinai when the Torah was given, so the Talmud says: ΧΧΧ ΧΧΧ¨ ΧΧΧΧ¨ ΧΧΧΧ ΧΧΧ ΧΧ¨ΧΧΧͺ ΧΧͺ Χ’Χ¦ΧΧ ΧΧΧΧΧ ΧΧΧ ΧΧ¦Χ ΧΧΧ¦Χ¨ΧΧ βIn … Continue reading #blogExodus – Redeeming
#blogExodus – Counting
The interesting thing about this prompt is that the counting is not part of the Seder or its preparations. When we think about Passover, the big production tends to be the focus. But not only does the holiday itself run for seven days (eight outside Israel), it continues with the counting of the Omer, or … Continue reading #blogExodus – Counting
#blogExodus – Leaving
The Hebrew word for Egypt is Mitzrayim, which means the Narrow Place. It's also the same root as the word for labour pains. Birth imagery has been associated with Passover from the beginning, with the explicit mention of the month of Aviv, or spring in the Torah. The Sages refer to the splitting of the … Continue reading #blogExodus – Leaving
#blogExodus – Asking
Why is this night different from all other nights? The youngest person present at the Seder has been asking that question for millennia. The rest of the evening is spent answering the question, beginning with the words "We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt." But it is interesting that the answer is not given until … Continue reading #blogExodus – Asking
#blogExodus – Learning
Passover, as such, is not particularly associated with learning. The next Pilgrimage Holiday in the calendar, Shavu'ot, commemorates the giving of the Torah and is celebrated by learning, traditionally all night. But on Passover we are primarily occupied with doing and telling, not so much by learning. Still, there is no question that a lot … Continue reading #blogExodus – Learning
#blogExodus – Blessing
This prompt is interesting to me because it is actually quite difficult. While Passover has the usual blessings for a holiday (on candles, wine, handwashing, bread or Matzah in this case, the Shehechiyanu for a new experience), I can't, offhand, think of any particular blessing that is special to Passover. The entire holiday is one … Continue reading #blogExodus – Blessing
#blogExodus – Cleaning
I have to confess that house cleaning is not one of my favourite activities at the best of times. I have friends who find catharsis and calm in cleaning, but so far I have not been able to get into that zone. The commandment to rid our houses of leaven has been interpreted by many … Continue reading #blogExodus – Cleaning