Final stage of making handmade matzah before baking in the wood-fired oven. |
Pesah in Jerusalem
There is nothing quite like Pesah in Israel. Aside from the ease of observance and eating,
almost the entire country is on vacation for the week. Kids are off of school for 2 ½ weeks (not
sure why – certainly not helpful to parents trying to prepare) and many parents
take off to be with them. It’s actually
amazing that the country still functions over the holiday! Getting most places involves sitting in
traffic for at least twice as long as usual, parks are full, cafes and
restaurants (yes, most go kosher for Passover) are busy, and hotels are full
with both visiting tourists and traveling Israelis. At the same time, some museums offer free
entrance, there are special kids and family activities available in many places
around the country, in Jerusalem there were signs to welcome “olim la’regel”
– the biblical phrase for people who came to Jerusalem for pilgrimage holidays,
and there is a general feeling of festivity in the air. My entire family was here for Pesah
and we had a wonderful combination of good family time (not easy with my family
who is literally scattered around the world), good food and good exploring in
and out of Jerusalem. Here are our reflections:
Dayeinu
(It would have been enough for us)
If only we had to
clean a small apartment instead of an entire house for Passover, dayeinu.
If only we bought
Pesah products in one store (instead of many), dayeinu.
If only we found a
handmade matzah factory, dayeinu.
If only we burned our
hametz on a fire others had already made, dayeinu.
If only we had one
Seder instead of two, dayeinu.
If only Esther’s
family was together for the Seder, dayeinu.
If only we ate in
restaurants, dayeinu.
If only we toured the
City of David from top to bottom, dayeinu.
If only the Judean
Hills we hiked through were in bloom, dayeinu.
If only everyone else
picnicking there was eating matzah too, dayeinu.
If only we visited the
newly remodeled Israel Museum (for free!), dayeinu.
If only we spent time
with cousins and family friends, dayeinu.
If only we could be
here in Jerusalem, dayeinu!
Hagalat Keilim - Cauldrons with boiling water to kasher dishes for Pesach.These are available to anyone and are stationed throughout most neighborhoods. |
Alexander, Yonah and our niece Dee Dee before the Seder |
Next year in Jerusalem
for you!
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