After a year of celebrating Jewish holidays in our homes, we are finally getting ready to march out of Egypt and leave those pesky plague/plagues behind. After a year of virtual celebrations, many of us have been immunized, and we are ready to step outside our homes and begin gathering once again as a community. With masks at hand and plenty of hand sanitizer near-by, we are anxious to celebrate together, but to err on the side of caution; we have at least one more holiday to celebrate as a virtual community.
To enhance our Seder Tables this year, KI is providing us with a special “Seder in a Bag,” containing all of the ritual items you will need to create your own seder plate, as well as a new KI Haggadah written by Rabbi Lance Sussman and Cantor Amy Levy. This gift contains everything you will need for KI’s Virtual Passover Seder scheduled for Sunday, March 28 at 6:00pm. Check e-KI for the link (or RSVP Here) as Rabbi Sussman, Cantor Levy and Ross M. Levy will be leading us through one more community Seder from the comfort of our homes. Do not forget to stop by KI on Thursday March 25 from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00p.m. or Friday March 26, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. to pick up your “Seder in a Bag!”
When Passover arrives every year, I try to think of ways to make the celebration a little more personal. Social Justice issues always come to mind, since our leaving Egypt and moving from slavery into freedom seems to be as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago. I recently found an article on the Reformjudaism.org website called: Four Cups of Wine: Social Justice Readings for Your Seder and thought I would share a few ideas with you. This year when you raise and bless your Four Cups of wine think of Freedom, Deliverance, Redemption and Liberation as we continue to work together for Social Justice.
The First Cup: Freedom in America
America where everyone has a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being for themselves and their families, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services (from Article 25 of the Declaration of Human Rights).
The Second Cup: Deliverance in Israel
Envision a modern-day Israel that fosters the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants. We envision an Israel that is “based on freedom, justice, and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel,” an Israel that “will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants” (from the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel, 1948).
The Third Cup: Redemption from Overwork and Underwork
Picture a world where everyone has work and, without any discrimination, receives equal pay for equal work. A world where everyone also can enjoy rest and leisure, and periodic holidays with pay (adapted from Articles 23 and 24 of the Declaration of Human Rights).
The Fourth Cup: Liberation from Slavery All Over the World
A world where no one is held in slavery or servitude… a world without sweatshop laborers, where all workers are able to make a fair wage, regardless of which country they are born into. We envision a world where all products are fairly traded, and no one country or financial institution can dictate trade policies (adapted from Article 4 of the Declaration of Human Rights).
Chag Pesach Sameach!
Janice