QuakerInfo.com Forum

[Kiahanie]

The first night of Passover is tonight. Our Seder will be simpler than most in the past, just the three of us this time. Things have been pretty busy, we haven't been able to schedule much in advance, and it will be nice to have just the three of us together like the first few times 15-20 years ago.

Our Seders have usually revolved around the query "What does it mean to be a person of faith in today's world?" -a universalization of the specifically Jewish reflections. We use a combination of a traditional Haggada, Tikkun supplements, and our own minimal insertions. We have found that the themes of the Seder are relevant to us in our sectarian spiritual lives: liberation, generosity, simplicity, affirmation and renewal, completion amidst brokenness, Spirit moving through human history.

We reflect on what it means to live in the Land of Pharaoh today as so many seek their freedom from Pharaoh's rule. We remember that to honor the Divine we must honor all people. As Jews, Irish, Ukrainian, Scot, Welsh we remember that once we were slaves, and now are free.

In whatever way you all observe springtime, I wish you a joyous season.
_________________
"There is a field out beyond right and wrong. I'll meet you there." --Jellaludin Rumi

[Hope]

[CelticNorth]

The Seder meal celebration has its roots in the Hellenistic Banquet, or symposium, and brings with it a appreciation by some Seder groups of the sybolic meaning of the offering of a the Pashal Lamb by Moses to celebrate the Exodus. As a rebirth motif, the celebration connotates a new beginning after the expullsion of the Hyskos from Egypt tied and attached to the Spring Equinox, which parallels that of the Christian Easter. I bring this up becasue a Seder I attended many years ago entailed following the Grecco-Roman banquet rituals enacted from descriptions taken from the Talmud. We should all marvel at the most ancient of all world wide religous observations- the coming of Spring. Whatever various faith traditions ascribe to its meaning and symbolism, the rebirth and regeneration of all living things under the sun is a marvel to behold.

[Hope]

[CelticNorth]

I was reminded this Easter weekend that it was the First Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. in which Rome merged the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth with that of the Spring festival celebration of the Anglo- Saxon fertility Goddess, Eostre, at the time of the Spring Equnox. I, too, Friend Hope, marvel at the annual unfolding and blossoming of earth, and often contemplate how both Judism and Christianity moved so far from the original agricultural celebrations upon which thier faith traditions were taken and orgininally had root. My early childhhood was truely blessed with seeking out the first robin's nest and daffodils, the early blossoms of the pear, apple and peach trees which made up our orchard. Would the fields be groomed for wheat, corn, soy beans or timothy ? The start of the family garden meant that eveyone pitched in. Earth Day was celebrated on Good Friday this year, and while it may be a coincidence, it was observed in my community by many with a full aprreciation of the planet we all rely upon, and the boutiful harvest upon which we depend.