On Passover, we ask, "why is this night different than all other nights?"
Well...these nights...this year...this holiday is as different as ever.
Last night I wasn't gathered with mom, Avi, Ben, the boys and other family and friends. I was alone in my apartment. A shvach Seder but one that I still put effort into it.
There was only one person around the table versus 10+. There was no child to ask the 4 Questions. No table full of people to have boisterous discussions over the Passover story. It was beyond different than ever.
Celebrating a major holiday alone, in quarantine, is weird. It's hard. It's words I like to not write in this space. Mom and I facetimed to be "together" and I pulled together a nice meal to mark the holiday. I made my favorite charoset and baked up some gefilte fish.
There were jokes "can we let Elijah in...?" and "next year in Jerusalem...how about next year together!"
We sing a song "dayenu" -- which means it would have been enough -- well I feel like I hit my dayenu...but we're all in this together and one day, Gd willing, it will be quite the story to tell my children and grandchildren. How despite a global pandemic, I still celebrated one of the most important holidays and made it meaningful.
the Good.Random.Fun. each Monday and Little Things Thursday...right here!
16 thoughts on the matter:
Oh I bet that was hard, good for you for making the best of it.
...different can always be hard, but at this moment it is essential. Stay seperate and safe, better times, normal times are coming.
I’m glad that you were able to celebrate and to “be with” your mom. Have you heard of the house party app? My family all have it on their phones and we can all be together. It’s sort of like Zoom only less professional. Easter will be strange for us this year as well.
Thank you for sharing your Passover experience. I honor you for putting forth the effort to make it meaningful.
And your words encourage me to make Easter special--even though it will be different this year.
Tamar, I am glad that you found a way to celebrate Passover despite the current state of things. Being a military family, always stationed away from loved ones, I am all too familiar with celebrating major holidays alone and finding unique ways to stay connected. Video chats have kept us connected to our families on so many occasions. And I am so grateful for technology in times like these. I know it is hard and so very different, but like you said, it will make for wonderful stories for your kids and grandkids.
Shelbee
www.shelbeeontheedge.com
I'm glad you were able to write about this - even in part - so I could catch a glimpse of how you observed it, even though it was so different from always. I'm so glad you found a way, and I am with you in looking forward to days of being able to see others again!
I'm so sorry that circumstances meant you had to celebrate Passover on your own. We had a bizarre, broken up seder over a bad Zoom connection. It was definitely different. And yes, we ended it saying, "Next year in Jerusalem. And hopefully together in (name of town where Dave's parents live)."
Last year we had to celebrate seder on our own too because Sam was contagious with fifth's disease so I REALLY hope we can all be together next year.
Beautiful traditions need to be celebrated, the rituals that bind our cultures through the years. I miss having Seder with my grandchildren and their mother, in Florida. I may not be Jewish, but I enjoy rituals. Happy Passover.
I saw you getting ready in your Stories and was thinking about you and your Seder last night. I was telling my girls about it on our after dinner walk This is one you'll never forget for sure! You made the best of a really tough situation and stayed positive. I loved seeing your preparations! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for sharing your Passover celebration with us. I hope that next year, your celebration will be with 10+ again, rather than just 1.
I totally understand how you feel - I live alone. So this Sunday on Easter I will talk to my sister and a couple of friends, read a few scriptures, and fix myself dinner. It's been a long time since I went to a Seder (my bro-in-law was Jewish) and I'd love to go to another. Since my brother-in-law is no longer with us, sadly it won't happen in our family. I'd love to have some charoset and sing along with dayenu - my bro-in-law's mother taught us that 30 years ago. Happy Passover!
Religious celebrations are more important now than ever.
Many churches here are holding Easter services outside (everyone stays in their own car). We pray it is not raining on Sunday!
Happy Passover to you and to all other bloggers who celebrate
Blessings to you and your family. Good for you for making the best of a bad situation.
Happy Passover to you and your family.
A Happy and Blessed Passover to you and your family!
So sorry you were alone. I'm glad you facetimed with your mom. Bet you missed your nephews though.
I am sure the Seder was very strange on your own - it was strange enough for 3 of us - but so pleased you made the best of it. I am sure that charoset was good!
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