Tell me, how is this night different from all other nights? How, tell me, is this Passover different from other Passovers? Light the lamp, open the door wide so the pilgrim can come in - gentile or jew - under the rags, perhaps the Prophet is concealed. Let him enter and sit down with us; let him listen, drink, sing, and celebrate; let him consume the bread of affliction, the paschel lamb, sweet mortar and bitter herbs. This is the night of differences: rest your elbow upon the table as the forbidden becomes prescribed; evil is translated into good.
We spend the night recounting far off tales, full of wonder, and because of all the wine, the mountains will skip like rams. Tonight they will exchange questions: the wise, the godless, the simple minded, and the child. Time will reverse its course: today flowing back into yesterday as a river enclosed at its mouth.
Each of us has been a slave in Egypt: soaked straw and clay with sweat, then to cross the sea dry footed. You too, stranger.
This year in fear and pain; next year in virtue and justice.
- Primo Levi, The Open Door
---------------------------------------
Wednesday, I celebrated Passover at Julia's house with mostly new friends, some religious, but all open to a feast that was more than just about eating. Not that Julia and I were attempting to be pedagogues, but we thought the evening wouldn't be complete without a little bit of education on the Jewish holiday - as clearly we are experts on the topic. However, after doing a bit of research, shopping, and putting vocab on a chalk board, we were excited to find out the 4 of the 14 steps to Seder involved drinking full glasses of wine - the Jews know how to have a dinner party!
And the Wedge Co-op was out of kosher Matzah ball mix - so we had to make the kind which specifically said, "NOT FOR PASSOVER!" which was fine, because otherwise the brushetta would have been even more out of place. Still, I have to wonder, what's the use of a non-kosher matzah? Other than the whole eating levened bread thing, we tried to stay on course: bitter herbs (well, arugula) to show the bitterness of slavery; parsley (representing Spring) dipped in saltwater (just like the tears of the slaves) which seemed to be rather a mixed metaphor; a nut and apple mixture reminiscent of the mortar on bricks used to build Egyptian monuments; a glass of wine and an open door for Elijah. We're pretty religious, can't you tell.
Sadly, I still think Hanukkah food is way better....but then who doesn't love food slathered and cooked in oil?
Next dinner party on the roster? Pentecost! The theme will be food cooked over an open flame.
No comments:
Post a Comment