Turn and face the stranger

[sovay]

For reasons that are not particularly interesting, my family did not hold a Seder tonight. Instead, my mother and I offered what she calls libations—a glass of wine poured out beside the front steps and matzah crumbled after it, while she speaks quietly into the night, Let all who are hungry come and eat. Let all who are homeless find a home. Let all who are enslaved be free. As far back as I can remember, this is our ha lachma anya. It is the most important part of the ritual. Past the four questions, the ten plagues, the ransoming of the afikomen: asking the stranger in. I suppose it is something like our observance of Hanukkah, small flames against the dark. It is not a Haggadah, a telling, but it is the story we hold on to. Next year in Jerusalem, but open the door now. Chag sameach, all.

Comments

[sovay]

What does chag sameach mean?

Just "happy holiday." I believe a chag is a festival rather than a fast or some other day set aside from the year. So for this holiday, Chag Pesach Sameach.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

And now I just re-realized the connection between Pesach and Passover and Pascal. Oh, if only this lightbulb of recognition would survive until next year.

But, on the other hand, I don't mind rediscovering and relearning from year to year.