Passover can be exhausting. The cleaning, kashering, shopping, cooking, and preparing often wears us out before we even reach the first cup of wine. But it can also be liberating. We have fond memories of cleaning out our spiritual chametz, discussing captivating questions, and retaining a sense of hope, activism, solidarity, and freedom that accompanies us home from a great seder. Yet putting together an invigorating seder on top of a delicious meal takes support and creativity, so we’ve decided to team up to help!
To that end, we want to share a few ideas for how to make your Passover meaningful this year, whether you are hosting or simply seeking inspiration:
First, let’s begin with music… Music was not only instrumental to the Exodus of the Israelites, but it is essential for a truly spiritual Passover experience. In the spirit of Miriam and the Song of the Sea, you might give a listen to this playlistthat Eitan recommends while you are cooking.
Admittedly, sometimes when we feel the heaviness of the world upon us, it is hard to access music. How do I sing from joy, you might wonder, while so much is uncertain about the return of the remaining hostages and the future of our own country? Dr. Tal Becker teaches, “Like the children of Israel amidst the sea, we must summon the courage to sing now.” If we can’t sing as an act of celebration, we must strive to sing this holiday as an act of faith and commitment.
Creativity – such as through song, questions, art, and poetry – is at the core of curating a meaningful Passover experience. To step out from the narrow ruts and constricted routines of our lives, we must be willing to experiment with how we experience the rituals of the Seder and the lessons of the holiday anew. To bring a fresh perspective to your holiday, we recommend checking out one of these interesting Seder supplements:
Second, Passover is a holiday based on the interconnection of people and generations. We invite you to open your doors and your hearts to welcome in someone new into your home or into your life. Unlike Pharaoh, whose intransigence led him to perpetually harden his heart, we each have the capacity to soften our boundaries for the sake of connection. For both of us, this has been an important and impactful theme of our past year.
Lastly, to experience z’man cheruteinu, a time of freedom as Passover is called in our liturgy, one needs to have time. This year may we give ourselves permission to cook one less course, clean one less cupboard, accept one less “to do” in order to make space for the expansiveness, the creativity, the freedom that Passover beacons into our lives. Dayenu – it’s enough already!
We wish you and your family a Chag Kasher v’Sameach – a holiday of creativity, connection, and meaning!
Shabbat Shalom!
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Coming Up!
Tot Shabbat Shabbat, Apr 19th 10:45a to 12:00p A fun and spirited playtime and Tot Shabbat service.
USY Chametz Fest Sunday, Apr 20th 8:00p to 9:30p Get ready to break Passover and eat all the chametz! Open to 7th-12th Graders
Yom Hashoah Commemoration - Music and Survival: The Spirit Endures Tuesday, Apr 22nd 7:00p to 8:30p HEA welcomes a special “Violin of Hope” on loan from the Nashville Symphony and the family violin from the Sladek family that survived with our member, Osi Sladek. The program will include music of the holocaust with the Eitan Kantor, The Colorado Hebrew Chorale and Guest Violinist from the Colorado Symphony, Samuel Nebyu. Azamra + Dinner Friday, Apr 25th 5:30p to 8:00p Our Friday Evening Musical Shabbat service followed by a tasty kosher meal!
Growing Season Prep Volunteer Day in the HEA Community Donation Garden Sunday, Apr 27th 11:30a to 1:30p Did you know that HEA's Community Donation Garden is planting to fight hunger -- for our third season! HEA partners with IFCS (an Englewood food pantry), Spirit of the Sun (Native American elder food shares) and Fresh Food Connect (a national fresh food rescue organization) and donates more than 500 pounds of produce each year. The garden is also a learning lab for our Religious School where students receive hands-on education about Jewish holidays and tzedakah. This year, with the USDA cutting over 1 billion dollars to food pantries, HEA's compassionate garden work and our produce is more important than ever. And YOU can be a part of it! Bubbe, Zayde and Me: Yom Hatzmaut Sunday, Apr 27th 4:00p to 5:30p Come and celebrate Israel's birthday with your grandchild (age 2-8) with Israeli-themed activities. We will make Israeli treats, create an Israeli flag collage, write notes for the wall, and much more. $15 per HEA member family / $25 non-member family
Kavod on the Road Tuesday, Apr 29th 1:00p to 2:30p Monthly programs for adults hosted by Kavod On the Road at HEA.
Israeli Wine Tasting for Yom Hatzmaut designed for women age 30-50 Thursday, May 1st 7:00p to 8:30p Israel boasts a vibrant wine industry with over 300 wineries, including both commercial and boutique wineries, spanning various regions from the Galilee to the Negev Desert. Come and taste a variety of these wines in a blind taste test and rate your favorites. Israeli snacks will be served. $20 per-person HEA member / $30 per-person non-member
Silver Shabbat Friday, May 2nd 5:00p to 7:00p In celebration of our seniors 75+ and Israel. $18 per individual.
Men’s Night Out: Pastrami and Poker Tuesday, May 6th 7:00p to 9:00p Bragging rights to the winner, but all proceeds will be donated to Leket Israel, The National Food Bank of Israel. Entrance fee with dinner included (veg option available): $36 HEA member / $50 non-member.
Monthly Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Shulman Wednesday, May 14th 12:00p to 1:00p A curriculum on Judaism and Jewish identity based on traditional sources and the teachings of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks. Topics include Identity, Prayer, Study, Mitzvot, Tzedakah, Chesed, Faith, Israel, Kiddush Hashem, and the Jewish future.
Cooking and Connection. What We Share: a Fellowship of the Greek and Jewish Communities Tuesday, May 20th 10:00a to 11:30a Come be a part of this lively exchange of cultures, cuisines, and faiths. Converse about our two similar Mediterranean traditions, prepare and share delicious foods from both cultures and then take an interactive tour of HEA’s sanctuary and its storied artistic and ritualistic legacy. This program is sponsored by the HEA Sisterhood and the Women of the Philoptochos. This is a women's only event.
