"Seder" Means "Order" And We Go Through The Order Together

There is nothing more Jewish than generations family, friends and friends of friends, invited to join. “Let all who are hungry come and eat,” we say, holding the matzoh as the meal concludes and the children open the door for Elijah the prophet.  This is a holiday of hospitality and open doors, not a ritual to be experienced six feet apart or enacted on the internet. And yet, distance we must, and discover alternate ways of fulfilling the commandment, “You shall tell your child on that very day: It is because of this that God did for me when I went out from Egypt.”

Tonight’s Passover is different for other reasons. Ordinarily, we dispense with the ritual hand-washing called Netilat Hayadayim. It wasn’t even included in our traditional Haggadah so we made this one. This year we’re washing hands and will count the full 20 seconds, both times.

It is a bitter irony of the coronavirus that this is a holiday mentions plagues, visited by God on the Egyptians in order to persuade Pharaoh to let the Jewish slaves go. We are now acquainted with something close enough and listen differently this year when God commands the Israelites, “None of you shall go out from the door of your house until this passes.” That’s how Passover got its name.

The Seder ends with the invocation “L’Shana Haba’ah B’Yerushalayim.” Next year in Jerusalem. It is a statement not simply of geography but of yearning for a better world. This year, that yearning is made manifest. L’Shana Haba’ah B’Yachad. “Next year may we be together.” And “Next year may we all be healthy.” And “Next year, God willing, back to normal.”

Next Year, May We Be Together


haggadah Section: Introduction