The feast of Pesach is a family affair, with singing and eating, pounding on the table and hunting for the afikomen. It's a rite that all Jewish people experience year after year. But, year after year, it's the same prayers, the same songs, and the same story. Eventually, it can all start to seem ... rote. As the years progress, the Passover Seder can become an obligation instead of a celebration. So, here are a few things you can do to have a memorable and mindful Passover seder this year!
Be aware of what your expectations are for your seder. If you have infants and toddlers, be conscious that you'll need to keep your seder short for their short attention spans and tempers. If you have kids preparing to sing the traditional "On all other nights" song, you'll have jitters to calm and console. If you have first time attendees, you'll have lots of questions to answer. If you have many attendees, then you're going to have a heavy clean-up load when the seder is done. Make sure you temper your expectations and prepare for the whole event, not just the seder.
Change up the space that you're having the seder in. If you're just using fancy place settings at your everyday dinner table, it might not be enough to make the occasion feel truly "set apart." So, have the Seder at the living room coffee table instead, reclining against the couch cushions and pillows like Yeshua did at His last seder. Or perhaps move all the furniture in the dining room to one side and have your seder picnic style! Or, if you're having a seder with more than just your family, outside of your home, then try to sit next to someone you don't know very well and enjoy the beginning of a new friendship!
Drink your cup of grape juice or wine slowly. Most of us who have been to a few dozen seders know that whatever you pour, you drink. And you have to drink it all at once. But this year, try savoring the tartness of the drink, letting it remind you of the crushing that has to take place in order to produce this juice. And much like the children of Israel, you too might have to go through a little bit of "crushing" in order to become what God has ordained you to be. Finish your cups, but do so with an extra moment of thankfulness for His provision.
Chew your food. In today's hustle and bustle, we tend to eat quickly. And while the first Pesach was all about recognizing the hurried nature of God's deliverance from slavery, the seder as we celebrate it is all about taking our time because we are now free. So, chew. Chew the bitter herbs until it tastes like slavery and sorrow so that you can remember what we were delivered from. Chew the Passover lamb until you can taste the fire it was roasted in and recall the sacrifices that were required. Enjoy the crisp crunch of the matzah and remember the speed with which our people needed to leave. Each element is purposeful and important, so take an extra breath with each of them.
Find a way to have long-lasting reminders of what took place during the first Passover. Throw around plastic flies and frogs when it's time to recount the plagues! Pelt one another with ping-pong balls to represent the hail! Turn off all the lights to represent darkness! Find a way to paint a doorpost with red paint before the actual meal. (We suggest putting up some butcher paper or plastic wrap.) This holiday is all about remembering, recalling, and reciting. So, use as many modalities as possible to learn the Passover story!
There are so many ways to remember the Lord's Passover. And these are just some of them! (Make sure you download our mini Passover Haggadah if you're looking for a simple and easy way to get started!)
Blessings from our family to yours! Chag Pesach Sameach, Happy Passover!
