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April 12, 2006
PMS + family holidays = moody melodrama
I love Pesach. It's my favorite Jewish holiday. I like the food (no, not for all 8 days, but for the first few, it's great). I like that there is some meat to the family gathering portion of the holiday. I have always enjoyed the seders, even the ones that go until 1 in the morning.
But the last few years, I've really dreaded them. My family's seders last a half hour, don't cover any of the more meaningful aspects of the event, and are kind of... going-through-the-motions-(in-English)-like.
I just can't figure out why I should bother doing something that's fairly meaningless.
Anyway, this year has been especially hard for me. As I mentioned before, I'm not in the best mood these days anyway. On top of that, I've now had a taste of Reconstructionism. We even own the Recon haggadah, which is absolutely amazing. All night tonight, I found myself wishing we had a Recon seder to attend.
I don't really know what my point is. Judaism has become so important to me recently, and I just hate for Pesach to become a thorn in my side. I understand that it's partly about being with family and doing things OUR way, but I just wish that I had a 2nd seder to look forward to that was done MY way.
At least I got to eat a lot of really good charoset.
Posted to Jew-mania at April 12, 2006 08:19 PM
Comments
My husband has the same issue... We go to seders at my step-siblings, who have small kids, so it's hard to have a meaningful (or lengthy seder). So - we are doing another one for us and a few friends at our house this weekend. Just a thought... Happy Passover!
Posted by: Jeanie at April 13, 2006 09:47 AM
Hey Pie, if we're ever within reasonable driving distance of each other for Pesach, I'd love to share a seder with you and Monstor. Seriously, it's my favourite holiday too, and if you have the Recon haggadahs, I'm so into that. My family hasn't done a sedar since before my Grandpa died (in fact, the last Passover before he died was the last sedar we did... but that's just coincidence) and while we're doing one this year, we're doing it on Sunday to work around mine and my mom's work schedules. My dad does not lead a seder well.
Anyway, I ramble. But I've been reading more and more about the Recon movement and it appeals to me more than my family's Reformed traditions and is more... well... I don't have the word for what I want to say. My point? Maybe sometime in the next few years? How cool would that be?
Posted by: Bean at April 14, 2006 12:51 AM
Thanks Jeanie - the problem is that we really don't have our own Jewish community right now. The closest Recon synagogue in Oberlin is an hour away, and we only have 2 Jewish friends here in Minnesota. It's definitely our plan for the future though (one seder with family, one with a community that does things more the way we like them).
bean - you are DEFINITELY welcome to do seder with us any time. That would be really nice. And if you have any questions about the Recon movement, I'm happy to share. Lauren is too, and she's coming from a Reform upbringing perspective like you. It's such a neat movement...
Posted by: Rebecca at April 15, 2006 10:43 AM