Passover is one of the most memorable holidays of the Jewish calendar and not just because we eat matza for seven days straight. Growing up, everyone has different memories of the seder, depending on how many hours it takes to retell the story of how our courageous ancestor Israelites journeyed from slavery to freedom. What I remember most about my childhood seders is everyone being together, and that our rituals seemed long enough for the wilted parsley to look appetizing. The grownups read prayers, while my older brother Steve and I tried to keep our hands to ourselves. The only thing that kept my bobbing head from landing on Grandma Ida’s Lenox china was the anticipation of finding the hidden piece of matzah wrapped in a linen napkin. If I was lucky, I might win one of Grandpa Harry’s shiny silver dollars.

While Passover is rich in tradition, from the Haggadah to the farfel koogle, the experiences and lessons learned are brand new each year. Continue reading →