It was a night different from all other nights!
The thing that nobody tells you about converting to Judaism is how lonely it gets around the holidays. On Hanukkah and Passover especially, when I look at my Facebook feed, it seems like I'm the only Jew who isn't having a family celebration. Of course, in my case, the problem isn't so much that I have no Jewish relatives, but that I have no relatives in this state. If I were still living in my hometown, the M's and Aunt Carla would probably indulge me in celebrating Jewish holidays, and someone at my hometown temple would probably invite me to their family gatherings. Nobody at the temple here has ever done that. (That's a big congregation for you, I guess.)
Since I don't get a family seder, I've really come to love the congregational Passover seder. I've come to think of it as kinda like the Oscars: this one really fun, special night with good food, that only comes around once a year. I love the way you settle in at the beginning, trying to pace yourself for a long night. I love the way everybody looks down when the host teaches the high numbers in "Who Knows One?" I love seeing the kids search for the afikoman and open the door for Elijah. I love that happy sort of tired that you feel when it's all over and you go back home and fall asleep with the melody of "Dayenu" still stuck in your head.
I'm only on my seventh year of Passover seders ( went to my first one in 2011), and I already have such nostalgia for them. Every year, I think about the people I've shared previous seder tables with: Rachel C, Tony and Barbara, Joshua J, Al (z"l) and Sharon, Kimberly (z"l) and Scott. This year, I sat with Martha and an older Jewish couple that I didn't know (the man had low blood pressure and kept asking for more salt, which really surprised me). The food was delicious, and the brisket was so juicy and tender that I would've rather had more brisket for dessert, instead of the raspberry pie.
Right after the seder, I started my period, and it was so rough this month that I had to leave work early, which I almost never do. (I guess I should be lucky it waited until after the seder.) But this weekend has been productive. I did my taxes (finally - actually getting a little money back this year!), crocheted, and found a new book at the library, Neverland: JM Barrie, the du Mauriers, and the Dark Side of Peter Pan. I didn't think there were any JM Barrie books out there that I hadn't read already, so I'm really excited!
Since I don't get a family seder, I've really come to love the congregational Passover seder. I've come to think of it as kinda like the Oscars: this one really fun, special night with good food, that only comes around once a year. I love the way you settle in at the beginning, trying to pace yourself for a long night. I love the way everybody looks down when the host teaches the high numbers in "Who Knows One?" I love seeing the kids search for the afikoman and open the door for Elijah. I love that happy sort of tired that you feel when it's all over and you go back home and fall asleep with the melody of "Dayenu" still stuck in your head.
I'm only on my seventh year of Passover seders ( went to my first one in 2011), and I already have such nostalgia for them. Every year, I think about the people I've shared previous seder tables with: Rachel C, Tony and Barbara, Joshua J, Al (z"l) and Sharon, Kimberly (z"l) and Scott. This year, I sat with Martha and an older Jewish couple that I didn't know (the man had low blood pressure and kept asking for more salt, which really surprised me). The food was delicious, and the brisket was so juicy and tender that I would've rather had more brisket for dessert, instead of the raspberry pie.
Right after the seder, I started my period, and it was so rough this month that I had to leave work early, which I almost never do. (I guess I should be lucky it waited until after the seder.) But this weekend has been productive. I did my taxes (finally - actually getting a little money back this year!), crocheted, and found a new book at the library, Neverland: JM Barrie, the du Mauriers, and the Dark Side of Peter Pan. I didn't think there were any JM Barrie books out there that I hadn't read already, so I'm really excited!