the exodus

today i went passover shopping. it's a little bit early, but i've always been the kind of person who constantly reminds herself to go get the matzah and then realizes the day before passover that all i have in my apartment is pasta. so i did it early year. and man, was it a success. i am stocked up! i have enough matzah and macaroons to last me and some visitors at least the 8 days i am required to change my entire diet.

although i rarely admit it, i think of the passover diet as kind of an imposition. first, i can't eat bread. considering that my diet usually is comprised of sandwiches, pita and hummus, or bagels, this is a big problem. then, i have to clean my entire kitchen which is also a hassle. the random mouse traps that have been set up for a defense system need to be removed, the various cooking implements spattering my counter top need to be removed, and all the crumbs need to picked up (no, i never got that vacuum cleaner in my hallway to work).

however, i tough it through these sacrifices and usually find myself immersed in the "spirit of passover" within a few short days. i'm not sure quite how to describe what this actually means, but i'll attempt it. see, to me, passover is about recognizing the importance of tradition. it's about looking to the past while simultaneously anticipating the future and realizing that one's life is not in isolation. instead, it is a part of a long-standing tradition. and future generations will maintain those traditions and their belief that they can better the world. we all make sacrifices to maintain traditions, be they as small as supporting a sports team because all of your family went to a specific institution or not eating pasta because over 2000 years ago a group of people supposedly survived living in the desert. we expect that past generations made similar sacrifices and we hope to pass on the traditions so that future generations do the same.

i find that it is truly remarkable that some traditions can exist for so long. images and accounts remain of seders all throughout time, from jesus's last supper to hidden seders during the holocaust. in this world of isolation, where everyone is concerned with supporting themselves, i think it's important to cling to these traditions and remember that we are part of something greater. this is the message of passover to me, a message of continuity and companionship, history and familial ties. it's a message that makes all the sacrifices worthwhile and ultimately helps giving meaning to my own life. and i think there is a specific sort of beauty in relating to a group of people who are all hoping for the same thing: a world without prejudice, a world that celebrates humanity, and a world where hunger does not exist. so to everyone who is preparing for passover, chag sameach and enjoy the matzah. to everyone else, i hope you are finding meaningful traditions and connections that help you define your own life.