The Significance Of This Year’s Seder

In the intervening years, the Seder has been marked in conditions of comfort, but also in times of challenge. In times of plenty, the festival has served as a reminder of the impermanence and fragility of our lives and our freedoms, and it has provided an opportunity to give thanks for our blessings. And in years of want, years of distress and anxiety, the festival can remind us of the sublime power of ideas that will not be imprisoned, values that cannot be suppressed. Passover is celebrated not by might, not by power, but by spirit alone.

(Rabbi Michael Marmur)

Fulfilling The Seder’s Obligation

Some in our congregational family and community not have access to all of the traditional supplies for Passover, and some will find themselves in isolation and unable to connect virtually. The Talmud guides us to what’s essential — asking The Four Questions and considering their ultimate meaning — we are to reflect on hope and freedom. The Sages taught: If the person’s child is wise and knows how to inquire, the child asks. If the child is not wise, the spouse asks. If the person’s spouse is not capable of asking or the person has no spouse, the person asks oneself. And even if two Torah scholars who know all the laws of Passover are sitting together, and there is no one else to pose the questions, they ask each other. (Talmud, Pesachim 116a)

Ways To Connect This Passover

On Thursday night Rabbi Eric and Linda Goodman, Director of Sacred Music, will lead a Virtual Seder that will be broadcast on our YouTube Channel,

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZcCrkD5AAfg0_5R0oBl2lw

The Seder begins at 6 pm and will be completed in its entirety prior to participants enjoying their holy day meals.

May Passover’s spirit uplift us this 5780/2020.

L’Shalom,

Rabbi Eric