What does Passover mean in American Jewish community?
Often Jews will say, “Passover is my favorite holiday.” Often Christians will say, “Christmas is my favorite holiday.” These two days are pretty different – one about the exodus from Egypt and the other about the birth of Jesus. What do we DO on these days? Passover revolves around telling the story of the redemption of the Hebrews from slavery and Christmas is about the birth of Jesus – and is often a big gift opening day. But I don’t think it is these two behaviors that draws individuals to them. I think it is the fact that they are done with others. It is not gifts, the story telling or even the eating, it is being together. On an intimate family level, it is being with those you love – even if you argue. Seeing the familiar faces – grandparents, cousins, close friends, families we were born into and families we create. On a communal level, we know that all the other Jews around the world are “with us” on this night; together we are all recounting our going out of Egypt. On Christma
