Friday, April 6, 2012

Happy Pesach to all my friends

Pesach (Passover) begins tonight and lasts for a whole week until next Saturday. The house is in high gear, the cleaning is done, the cooking is almost there, and in a few moments hubby will go off to burn the last chametz (leaven). I can already smell the burning in the air from the neighbours bonfires.

We've got our son and his family coming for the first day, which includes the all-important Seder night. I can't wait to hear his little ones asking the "4 questions".

I want to wish all my MOT friends Chag Kasher Ve'Sameach - a Happy and Kosher Passover. And to all my Christian friends I would like to wish you Happy Easter.

Here's a cute video from the IDF wishing Happy Pesach to everyone.

Happy holidays!


And courtesy of Elder of Ziyon (where I also found the video) a brilliant picture. :)

7 comments:

  1. Chag Sameach and Happy Easter to you, annie!

    I really enjoyed the video and lol at the picture. How did they get the food to not float away??? What does that sign say, would you translate, annie?

    Happy Passover and Easter to all here who celebrate.

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  2. One other question for you, annie...I know the foods on the Seder plate are symbolic but are they also eaten? The bitter herbs??

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    1. Hi florrie and comrades, we're just emerging from the other side of Seder night and the first day. After months of cleaning the house, scrubbing and scouring, the house looks like it hasn't been touched in a year. LOL! The first bite of matza sprinkles crumbs in places that other foods cannot reach, The Seder went on till after 2 a.m. and believe it or not, the little ones (age 3,2, and 1) stayed up more or less till the end! They were so cute, singing along with the songs and hiding the Afikomen from Grandpa. :)

      In answer to your questions (since the seder is all about questions and answers):

      The sign in the picture reads "Happy and Kosher Pesach to all the people of Israel, from the Israeli Navy". I never thought about how the food doesn't float away! It is a mystery! :))

      Re the foods on the Seder plate, some are eaten, some aren't. The bitter herbs are definitely eaten, a few times, at different point during the Seder. Once dipped in salt water, once dipped in "haroset", a sweet apple-nut-wine-sugar mixture to represent the mortar used for the bricks, and once in a matza sandwich. The bitter herbs aren't all that bitter unless you eat raw horseradish - that's enough to blow your hat off! Otherwise people eat lettuce or radishes etc.

      The shank-bone is purely symbolic, and also the egg, representing the Passover sacrificial lamb and the festive sacrifice in Temple days.

      And when you've finished all that you still have the 4 cups of wine during the Seder plus a festive meal.

      I think I've gained 10 lbs just over the last 24 hours!

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    2. Oops, forgot to explain the Afikomen.

      The "stealing" is purely to keep the children awake and entertained until the end. It works, take it from me! :)

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    3. Thanks for the explanation, annie. I'm glad to hear you all had a joyous celebration!!

      I actually remembered what the Afikomen was...well, I knew it was matzoh :-)

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  3. Thanks for the joyful post annie!

    Happy Pesach, Happy Easter, and Happy Spring everyone! :)

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