By You might believe that the High Holy Days are the most important days on the Jewish calendar. While they may be considered as the most sacred days of our year, they are not the most popular. A Pew Research report of 2020 indicates that while 62% of Jews attended or held a Seder in 2019, only 46% fasted on Yom Kippur, indicating that it is Passover that is considered among Jews to be the most significant Jewish holiday and the one in which they want to participate.
Each of our Jewish holidays is imbued with its own major themes. On the High Holy Days, we engage in personal reflection on our behavior over the previous year, consider the ways we have erred and how we might improve in the future. On Chanukkah, we focus on resilience, light, and the presence of miracles in our lives. On Passover, we focus on liberation from oppression, as well as spring renewal. Through our Hagaddah, we retell the story of how our ancestors escaped from Egyptian slavery into freedom. Yet our obligation goes further.
In our holiday prayers, Passover is referred to as Z’man Cheruteinu—the season of our freedom. From this we learn that we are encouraged to imagine ourselves as reliving the Passover exodus into freedom, exploring what that means to each of us in the present. We may ask ourselves: What restrictions are we placing on ourselves that prevent us from moving forward in our lives and fulfilling our dreams? What would it take to liberate ourselves from these constraints? We might offer up prayers of gratitude that we live in a society that was founded on personal freedoms, while such luxury is only a pipe dream in so many corners of the world. We should be vigilant not to take our own liberties for granted, as we see how people in many states are losing certain personal freedoms—one court decision or passed legislation at a time.
To commemorate how the Israelites had only enough time to bake unleavened bread before their escape from Egypt, during Passover we eat matzah instead of chametz (leavened products), particularly those made with wheat, barley, spelt, rye, and oats. Prior to the start of the holiday, we search our homes to rid them of any traces of chametz. Yet beyond this physical house-cleaning, what emotional or spiritual cleansing can we do within ourselves to lead happier, more fulfilling lives? Are there habits we want to discard that are not serving us well? Behaviors that are self-destructive or harmful to those around us? Activities we engage in that don’t enhance our lives? Passover offers us a chance to clean house—externally and internally.
In the Torah, the current Hebrew month of Nisan (which includes Passover) is called “the first month.” In addition to being Z’man Cheruteinu, the spring holiday of Passover is the first of four “New Years” on the Jewish calendar. On our seder plate, the karpas (green leafy vegetable, usually parsley) symbolizes the rebirth and renewal we associate with this season. Learning from our ancestors who fled Egyptian slavery and were reborn into a Jewish nation, may we each find our own opportunities for personal renewal.
Wishing you all a Chag Sameach!
Comments