Religious Education Update: April 20, 2008
The Passover Seder
Passover is one of my favorite holidays of the church year. I love that the tradition is so ancient. When Jesus celebrated a Seder with his disciples in the Last Supper, the tradition was already thousands of years old. How many of the traditions that we moderns observe have that history? ( For comparison, we’ve been exchanging Valentines for 300 years, decorating Christmas trees for 500 years, and celebrating Thanksgiving for 400 years. To my knowledge, only our observances of the solstices have a longer history.)
Second, I love that it is so intergenerational. The youngest child in the family who has learned to read asks The Four Questions. When the elders give the answers, they tell the story of Passover. At the end of the Seder, the children find the hidden matzot, or afikomen. The children are important participants throughout the ritual.
Third, the message of obtaining freedom after enduring hardship is hopeful and inspirational. Just as the Jews escaped their enslavement under the Pharaoh, we may overcome issues which make our lives difficult, in order to find our own personal freedom.
Finally, what’s not to love about any celebration that includes good food? Please try some of the Seder foods that the children have prepared for you during your worship time.
This past week, when Mike Iritz and Ellen Beeler shared their memories of Passover with me, they both indicated that the Seder was fun for them as children. Mike and Ellen’s families had differences in their celebrations, but in both cases, the children were included and valued, just as we include and value our UUP children and youth in our own traditions.
Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education
Passover is one of my favorite holidays of the church year. I love that the tradition is so ancient. When Jesus celebrated a Seder with his disciples in the Last Supper, the tradition was already thousands of years old. How many of the traditions that we moderns observe have that history? ( For comparison, we’ve been exchanging Valentines for 300 years, decorating Christmas trees for 500 years, and celebrating Thanksgiving for 400 years. To my knowledge, only our observances of the solstices have a longer history.)
Second, I love that it is so intergenerational. The youngest child in the family who has learned to read asks The Four Questions. When the elders give the answers, they tell the story of Passover. At the end of the Seder, the children find the hidden matzot, or afikomen. The children are important participants throughout the ritual.
Third, the message of obtaining freedom after enduring hardship is hopeful and inspirational. Just as the Jews escaped their enslavement under the Pharaoh, we may overcome issues which make our lives difficult, in order to find our own personal freedom.
Finally, what’s not to love about any celebration that includes good food? Please try some of the Seder foods that the children have prepared for you during your worship time.
This past week, when Mike Iritz and Ellen Beeler shared their memories of Passover with me, they both indicated that the Seder was fun for them as children. Mike and Ellen’s families had differences in their celebrations, but in both cases, the children were included and valued, just as we include and value our UUP children and youth in our own traditions.
Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education
posted by Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma @ 5:56 PM
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