Seder individuals yearly retell the identical story, however the Exodus narrative could also be extra private this yr. After a 12-month stretch of pandemic restrictions, communal losses and the event and distribution of vaccines, native non secular leaders are encouraging individuals to attach with Passover’s messages of freedom and hope.
Rabbi Barbara Symons, of Temple David in Monroeville, is emphasizing the latter.
“Whether or not we’re sitting on the desk in particular person with others or through Zoom, we’re celebrating our past redemption and searching towards a future redemption by opening the door for Elijah,” mentioned Symons. “Even when Elijah will not be ready on the doorstep, we proceed on with our seder and on with our work repairing our world.”
Main as much as the vacation, Rabbi Jeremy Weisblatt, of Temple Ohav Shalom in Allison Park, has urged congregants to “not simply inform what’s within the Haggadah, however to inform your story.”
Present losses of freedom — albeit far completely different from slavery — can assist Haggadah readers think about themselves fleeing Egypt, and assist body ideas of redemption, in line with Weisblatt.
“We have to at all times look ahead,” he mentioned, however added, “I don’t suppose we will undergo this vacation with out acknowledging what we’ve been by.”
Previous to just lately becoming a member of Kesher Pittsburgh as co-spiritual chief, Sara Inventory Mayo spent years in public communal service. When the pandemic decreased alternatives to attach with others in particular person, Mayo centered on wanting inward. That ruminative course of, which she described as “clearing out the non secular chametz,” provided perception.
“There are many issues in our tradition generally that we have to have a look at in another way,” mentioned Mayo. Whether or not it’s innovating Jewish communal life or advancing spirituality, there’s room for future enhancements — and though it’s troublesome to examine what comes subsequent, there’s additionally worth in appreciating the current, she mentioned.
Due to COVID-19, individuals now dwell in a “slender house,” mentioned Mayo, which sheds gentle on the Passover story, the expertise of the Jewish individuals in Egypt, the that means of the seder plate and the Haggadah’s questions — particularly why this night time is completely different from all different nights.
Matzah and a masks. Picture by Liudmila Chernetska through iStockphoto.com
Rabbi Ron Symons, of the Jewish Group Heart of Higher Pittsburgh’s Heart for Loving Kindness, is encouraging individuals to give attention to private progress and security.
“This yr, don’t rush to a premature freedom,” he mentioned. “Proceed to guard your self in your social distancing, masks carrying and hand washing. As urgently as we wish to be with different individuals, just like the Israelites so way back, quickly we’ll make our means by the ocean and discover ourselves at Sinai.”
He touted two Heart for Loving Kindness digital occasions to assist foster the vacation spirit. On March 26, Symons and fellow JCC staffer Melissa Hiller will host a pre-Shabbat banquet with religion leaders from the Sikh, Christian and Islamic communities. On April 2, Symons will be a part of Maggie Feinstein, of the ten.27 Therapeutic Partnership; Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife, of Kesher Pittsburgh; and Geraldine Massey, of the Heart for Victims and The Heart of Life, Hazelwood, for a Yizkor service memorializing the previous yr’s numerous casualties.
“We’ve misplaced lives, work, funds, studying alternatives, innocence and autonomy,” mentioned Ron Symons.
As the vacation approaches, Rabbi Mendy Schapiro, of Chabad of Monroeville, has been enthusiastic about the previous yr’s losses but additionally their relationship to the losses skilled hundreds of years earlier.
“One factor that’s actually fascinating is that the unique Passover was in quarantine,” mentioned Schapiro. “Again in Egypt, God handed over each dwelling and saved the Jewish individuals.”
1000’s of years in the past, God instructed the traditional Israelites to observe sure vacation pointers. This yr, the Jewish individuals are once more being advised to undertake explicit Passover measures for security’s sake, mentioned Schapiro: “We should always nonetheless drink the wine, eat the matzah and have the seder. It might not be splendid, it may not be a large community seder, however we positively should have fun and be joyous and inform the story of the unique Pesach.”
With the vacation quickly approaching, and a realization that many will likely be experiencing it in isolation, Schapiro is making an attempt to assist space residents have fun.
“We’ve got near 60 seder kits ready for the neighborhood,” he mentioned. “We’re providing full dinners for people who find themselves homebound. We’re doing shmurah matzah supply to 250 individuals within the japanese suburbs.”
It’s necessary to do not forget that offering meals this time of yr hits on the coronary heart of Passover and a central Haggadah passage, mentioned Schapiro: “All who’re hungry ought to come and eat.” PJC
Adam Reinherz will be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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