04/05/2023
As we look outside our windows and see trees in full bloom, we are reminded that the 8-day holiday we are about to usher in shares the theme of potential with nature. Pesach is called chag ha-aviv, the holiday of spring, not just because of the season in which it falls, but also because this is a time of growth. Our sedarim bring joy, song, food, family and loved ones, freedom, as well as reliving our ancestors’ affliction, paired with conversations and questions that help us grow into a fuller, more redeemed version of ourselves. We tell our forebears’ stories in order to realize a better world for others, and more meaningful lives for ourselves.
However and with whomever you might celebrate Pesach this year, we hope that amidst everything this holiday has to offer, you find the growth that is reflected in the blossoming trees. May you do this in community with others, both at home with family and friends, as well as with your synagogue family, at OT. Chag kasher v’sameach!
Rabbi David Kalender
Rabbi Viktoria Bedo