Passover to Celebrate and Remember

As Passover approaches once again, I inevitably recollect the many Passover celebrations of my childhood, all of which combine to leave me with an enormously sentimental, emotional feeling about the holiday. Regrettably, I was not familiar with the history of the holiday until much later but I console myself with the realization that not truly understanding the religious significance in no way dampened or minimized the holiday for me.

From as early as I can remember, my parents, brothers and I celebrated the Passover first seder at the home of my aunt and uncle (now of blessed memory). There is now a very positive interpretation for me that is associated with the inevitability of that celebration. We had no wondering, no uncertainty and no negotiation because this was a fixed (and reliable) part of our history.

At this point, I am still not certain as to why it was always where it was, I now believe that this aunt and uncle were the only household in the family to observe all of the rules appropriate to maintaining a Kosher home. Again, my more contemporary understanding of Judaism explains customs that never needed explanation. But I do not remember ever questioning the tradition and I now find that it was an extraordinary and treasured component of my history.

My uncle always conducted the Passover seder with no paragraphs in the Haggadah skipped, no prayers overlooked and no explanations assumed. This was the holiday replete with Manischewitz wine, available to all in attendance. It was Kosher Kool-Aid to us and those of us who were considerably under the legal drinking age enjoyed the opportunity to partake in this once-a-year imbibing exercise without fear of correction. From my current standpoint, I am certain that I annually over-indulged and can now only wonder if my childhood giggles were considered a rite of passage, unfortunate consequence or joy of celebration.

Of course there were unleavened bread (matzah), hard-boiled eggs and the other pieces of this beautiful and symbolic holiday. No-one will ever confuse matzah with a gourmet event but again, I find security and belonging intrinsic to something as simple as horseradish (also part of this ceremony).

Passover will always be my favorite Jewish holiday, although we certainly have more prominent or more somber and sacred festivals. This celebration, however, carries more memories than any other, of family and belonging, of tradition and reverence, of unity and unconditional caring for one another.

With the Passover holiday approaching it is destined to be one that I will replicate to the best of my culinary, religious and traditional abilities. If you were not there for the noisy, holy, intimate and unforgettable Passovers of my childhood, you would not know the difference. I was and I do, but many years later, I do believe that my Uncle Sol would be proud.