Politicizing Passover

HAPPY PASSOVER - CHAG SAMEACH!!!

This one, comes to you live from the Holy Land - I know, I know not often do I blog in a timely manner, but I think this one is appropriate enough - plus a lot's been going on!

Firstly, a little status update as to my overall well-being and whereabouts: Currently I'm in Israel, after having spent the past 6 months or so living abroad in the Queen's Country - England! I loved my experience in London, as trying as it was at times - and I most certainly wouldn't trade it for anything, or at least not most things...everything's got some kind of price on it, sometimes.

Yada Yada Yada... I'm doing the Jewey thing here in Israel, visiting the sights, seeing the family and the friends and of course, celebrating the holiday.

Most notable are the similarities and the differences when it comes to the "Chag Aviv" or "Spring Holiday" here in Israel compared to back in Toronto...

While I could (and just might) go on about the ins/outs of what you'd find on the passover seder plate next to you, or the dishes that are about to make your next week both a tongue-tingling pleasure and a gut-busting, gassious nightmare, the most notable fact is that here, in the Holy Land - they only have ONE, UN(E), UNO, SOLO, EIN, ECHAD... 1 NIGHT OF PASSOVER SEDER. That's it. No More. No Less.

Now, those in the know (or those that think they know) will tell you this is because the great rabbinic minds who've studied and interpreted Torah for centuries, who've asked, and answered, and asked again many a question in relation to God's wonderful celebration as to where Moses n' the Jews took a wrong turn in the Sinai, they will tell you that the reason that in the "Golah" the "Outer World" (outside Israel) they celebrate with 8 nights (TWO SEDERS) is, something to do with the rising and setting of the sun, the lunar calendars the differentiation therein, and the spinning of the earth on its axis - and yada yada yada, just in case we're off by a day, we eat n' repeat - twice!

I have in fact another working theory - its Politics!

Now, what do I mean by politics? I am not referring to any UN resolutions, political manifestos, party platforms, international treaties or wars, but rather the simple, easy to digest (excpet for some, the matzah) fact that when it comes to Jewish holidays, no greater factor exists than that of FAMILY.

Families are what we base our holidays on. The closeness, the comraderie, the food, the wine, the kibbutzing, the uncle who never fully zips his fly after coming out of the toilet, the uncle that never bothers to do up his pants when entering the house in the first place, the aunt that complains about the style of cooking, the kids that don't wanna eat "that gross nasty looking stuff" and the reading...oh the reading...the long, same 'ol story as last year hagaddah/haggadah/hagudah - the unauthorised biography of Moses n' Co.

Having bore this in mind, I think that the reason that the bulk of the world's Jews (who currently almost tie with the overall number of Israeli Jews) celebrate 2 nights is b/c they have to settle any political flare-ups amongst the families before they errupt into all out irrepairable damage.

This can be especially traumatic for a newlywed couple - and this is where I think the Israelis have it wrong - where do you hold the big bite?? My mother's or your mother's?? What's wrong with My Mother? Nothing - what's wrong with "MY" mother?? - also nothing!!! And let's not even START with the grandmothers!!! For some its simple logistics/geography - we live in Haifa, and 90% of the loved ones are Haifa-based, so why would we go to Jerusalem to visit YOUR family? (the answer usually involves whether or not the man actually ENJOYS having sex) - but they compromise - I guess kinda like the goyim do with Christmas - one year here, the next year there - kinda simple really...

Where am I going with this really? Here's where I think the Israelis have it down pat: The problem, is readily solved with the initial decision. There's no true struggle (this from the mouths of babes) they simply acknowledge - this year here, next year there - end of story. Or, they alternate by throwing say, two lesser holidays over to one side (I'll trade you a Purim and Chanukah for a Rosh Hashana or a Pesach - you CAN'T EVER get both - its not plausible - in fact, Peace in the Middle East is more of an attainable goal than to get TWO major holidays at YOUR place - in the same calendar year (JEWISH CALENDAR) - obviously)!

I must however take into account a slight exception to this rule, that is to say, if you are the extended family's most LOGICAL (read: you've got the room to host) place to hold seders n' such - then, by default you get a first night automatic - at least in my house it was like that - until that is, they sold the house! But, back to my point - in the outside world it becomes a struggle, a game, a political mindfield to navigate who goes where, when and how! Israelis, they just break it down nicely.

This year, as stated, I've been celebrating in Israel - and tonight, in what should've been and indeed has been for the past 27 years - a 2nd night of seders - I went to the movies. I saw a great lil' flick (The Air I Breathe) which has a screwy ending (similar to Vantage Point) but it was great - no stuffing myself with extra matzah, leftover vs. freshly prepared meat dishes etc...however - Do you know how crowded the cinema was?????? Hmmm, maybe, just maybe the 2nd night is warranted...who knows?

All I do know is that its not the same, no matter what, when you're not at home with the ones you love the most - that is no slight against my family whom I adore and admire so much out here, but, there's nothing like MY MOTHER'S GIFILTE FISH - sure your mom makes a nice dish, but MY MOM'S ROCKS!!! The other thing I'm gonna miss this year is the 2nd night leftover cleanup party at the Chateau Litowitz in Thornhill - but that's another blog altogether!!!

I'm gonna go hit the hay, and tomorrow its beach day (again)!!!

Chag Sameach and Kasher Le Pesach (oh don't get me started on that)!!!

Lots of Love from the Holy Land!

PEACE (Seriously, we need some 'round here)
Done

EM