Monday, April 6, 2009

Pesach Denial

"Why is this night different than all other nights?
Don't ask!"

That's the saying printed on my Pesach Seder night apron.
Wednesday night at sundown, the Passover Seder will commence, and somewhere around 2 A.M. on Thursday morning, Jewish baalabustas ( mistresses of their homes)everywhere will wash the last piece of china, crystal or silver, and give thanks that another Seder was a success.

This year, I have been in what Magpie Ima calls "Pesach Denial." Oh, I have been getting the cleaning done, planning the Seder, but without any real conviction that Pesach is actually coming.

(Picture from the Sarajevo Haggadah)


I have no enthusiasm for the whole thing, and a sense of liberation from the chametz of my life is the furthest thing from my mind.

Is it my lack of energy this spring generally? Am I tired of having Pesach preparations devolve on my 5' 1 and 1/2" frame? Is it the weather? Lingering depression from Zoey's death? My general lack of enthusiam about my neuroimaging class? My health?

So, nu? Whatever it is is, Pesach is three days away, and the work is coming along, but I am not into it. Like the Boychick's special ed coordinator at Machon, I am saying inside: "I just don't want to do it!"

(I have been planning this post since Saturday, but our DSL went down again. This time, I talked to the tech guy they sent out personally, and I hope the problem is permanently resolved).

Ready or not, Pesach is nearly upon us!

Zissen Pesach!

2 comments:

Connie said...

I'm not sure what the proper way to do it is, but I'd like to wish you a happy Passover (in spite of your denial). Last year, I was amazed to find that Passover occurred a couple of months separately from Easter. Apparently centuries ago some church official changed the method of determining when Easter occurs, so that it takes on a timeline of its own. That to me just wasn't right. I much prefer an Easter that properly follows Passover by a few days.

Elisheva Hannah Levin said...

Connie, thanks so much!
I am sure it will be a happy one, although right now my feet are killing me!

Pesach (Passover) is always the first full moon following the vernal equinox. Easter is calculated to be the first Sunday after the full moon on or following the vernal equinox. Therefore, there have been years (2005 was one), when Easter occured in late March, but Passover occured in late April.
Next year though, I think both Easter and Pesach will occur in late March.