Passover, or pesach (פֶּסַח), has always been one of my favorite Jewish holidays. It signifies a time when the Jewish people overcame incredible adversity and struggle, with astounding perseverance and determination. The celebration of the victory and triumph of the Jewish people has, for thousands of years, been a time when families and friends come together to tell the story of our ancestors. The traditional Passover festivities include a Seder and a reading of the story of Passover from the Haggadah, complete with songs and poems and a series of traditional questions and answers.
This year, though, Jewish communities around the world are faced with a different question, one that can’t be found in any Seder how-to books; how do we continue the Passover tradition if we can’t leave our homes? Passover is traditionally celebrated by most Jewish families in large groups. We gather at someone’s home, sometimes 20 or 30 people at a time, and all sit around a huge table set with row after row of perfectly placed plates, bowls, silverware, and wine glasses. But, with all that is going on around us right now, this isn’t a safe or feasible option. So– what are the Jewish communities around the world supposed to do? How do we welcome Elijah into our Seder if we are supposed to stay at home, closed off from the rest of the world?
Fortunately, there is another way to surround ourselves with our loved ones, albeit rather un-traditional: Zoom. This year, my mom and I will spend the day cooking and cleaning and preparing for Passover, but we will welcome guests to our table virtually. The family and friends that would normally sit around the table with us will be collected on the 15 inch screen of a laptop, safe at home around their own Seder plates and tables. Although it won’t be the same, and everyone will likely have leftovers for days (or maybe weeks…) to come, a big part of the celebration of this holiday, of the triumph of our ancestors, is spending it with the people we love. In my 19 years of celebrating Passover, my family has never been faced with a challenge quite like this one, but I am confident that we will be triumphant in overcoming this global pandemic, just like the Jews escaping Egypt all those centuries ago.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, or are worried or confused in this time of crisis, Representative Anna V. Eskamani and her team have provided virtual resources to answer your questions.
Sara Branly is a 2020 Campaign intern and Freshman at the University of Central Florida studying Philosophy and Integrated Business. You can read more about Sara here.