From ‘I’ to ‘We’: The Lasting Power of the Passover Seder

By Rabbi Michael Schwab.

I don’t know about you, but each year thinking about my upcoming Passover Seder unfailingly sends me into the world of nostalgia.  Years of Sedarim cycle through my head.  Precious memories of times spent with family members, some of whom who are no longer alive and some of whom who are no longer part of my Seder because of distance and life circumstance, suddenly become tangible and vivid.  I can smell the food, hear the laughter and feel the warmth.  Through the experience of these memories I re-connect with my own past, with my treasured relationships, with my personal family history and with my Jewish heritage, all at once, in an emotionally compelling way.  During those moments of remembering I understand that all those years of experiencing Passover Sedarim in such a way have created a powerful and positive legacy that naturally creates joyful anticipation in advance of the holiday each and every year.

While many of us complain about the lack of bread and the poor taste of matzah (although there are some who love it!?), the reality is that this is one of the most meaningful and most celebrated holidays  on the Jewish calendar.  Much of that, I believe, stems from the powerful entwinement of our personal memories with the collective memory of our people.  This is a holiday, which perhaps like no other, actively builds Jewish identity and connects us as individuals to the on-going story of the Jewish people.  “I” becomes “We”.  Our family customs become intertwined with the ancient customs of our ancestors.  Our present intermingles with our past – creating a new future.  The Passover Seder, in many ways, acts as our Jewish compass helping us to better understand who we are and, therefore, guiding us to where we need to go. 

So please, wax nostalgic in advance of the Passover holiday, remember what made your Sedarim of the past so meaningful and help create memories that will sustain you and the participants at your table well into the future.  And if you don’t have nostalgia for past Passovers, there is no time like the present to create an experience worthy of such memories! Therefore, I wish you all a meaningful Passover filled with memorable moments, which help each person connect in a lasting way with our beautiful tradition!  Hag Sameah – Have a happy Passover holiday!