Almost noboby does anything to mark this Yom Tov (Holy Day), besides "the usual" (special prayers, seudot mitzvah, kiddush, motzi, etc).
I will never forget the first time I actually celebrated the parting of the waters of the Red Sea, enabling the Jews to walk across the dry sea bed, thus safely escaping the Egyptian soldiers.
We were invited to celebrate Sh'vi'i L'Fesach (the 7th day of Pesach) with our good friends, L&JF. It turns out, they have all sorts of cool traditions to mark this day.
During the evening meal, they hold a modified Seder.
The "Seder plate" has a thick row of charoset, stretching across the middle of the plate, representing the dry land, upon which the Jews crossed the sea. the charoset is bordered by upright stalks of celery, representing the wall created by the split sea. Behind the celery sticks are "waves" of lettuce, representing the sea.
During the meal, the relevant p'sukim (verses) from the Torah are read/sung, including Shirat HaYam (The Song of the Sea).
At the end of the meal, they sing "Echad Mi Yodea?" (Who Knows One?) , with a twist: you can't use anything from the original song, and, preferably, not from previous years either (making each year a bit more challenging than the last). It is so much fun, and creative, to find alternate answers!!
And, of course, they sing their special "HaYom Sh'vi'i L'Fesach" (Today is the 7th Day of Pesach) song, which someone from J's family made up, about Hebrew Grammar, and how Pesach becomes Fesach (for an explanation, check out dagesh/BeGeD KeFeT).
Since that first time, we have been priviliged to celebrate Sh'vi'i L'Fesach with their family several times.
This year, we will be celebrating with other friends, who have their own special holiday tradition. These friends bar-b-que their meal on Shvi'i L'Fesach (thanks to this funky timer device, which turns on and off your gas).* Yummm.
I always wanted to do that!
Chag Sameach!!
Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.
With love and optimism,
RivkA
* Unlike Shabbat, it is permissible to cook food on Yom Tov and to "transfer" fire (i.e. light a fire from an existing fire). It is not permissible to put out a fire; however, if the gas is closed by a timer, that is permissible.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
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11 comments:
how come no mention of the juggling convention?
actually Chabad and maybe others do a Seudat Moshiach in the late afternoon on the day of yom tov and drink four cups of wine/grape juice.
That is so cool! What a fantastic visual.
Love the BBQ.....may you enjoy this hold day with those you love.
........:-) Hugs
absolutely adore the seder plate visual. fun and meaningful! thanks for sharing it. sending good thoughts.
Leah -- same as with Eilat -- I did not want to announce to the whole world that we were not home. Now that we are back, I will post all about it!
Mikimi -- we also went to a "seudat Mashiach," but not with Chabadnikim.
Cheryl -- I thought so too!
Bernie -- tnx
Minnesota Mamaleh -- my pleasure! thanks for stopping by my blog; come again!!
You've never done a Yom Tov bbq before? It's the perfect excuse to buy meat that you would otherwise find it hard to justify (really good steaks, lamb, etc.) and the red wine that goes with them. :) Especially here, where we don't have Sundays in the American sense, it's hard to find another time to invite people over and do one. It DOES always feel like I'm doing something wrong -- my guests always say the same thing. Maybe you'll come out and join us for one on Sukkot? I have a Weber grill sitting in a box in my guest room, waiting to be set up when we move.
Karen -- my mouth is watering already!
Our apartment came with a gas hookup on my mirpeset (porch), but we do not yet own a gas grill.... yet
Karen -- I did try it.... once; it was a disaster! It took too long to build the fire (I used wood and not coals), the food took too long to cook, and everyone was starving and irritated by the time it was ready.
My friend made his BBQ on a gas grill (like yours).
RivkA - Where does one acquire the gas timer thing? I would LOVE one of those for exactly that purpose.
Noa -- it's called a "chagaz" -- get it?
Chag + Gaz (holiday + gas)
They sell it all over the place.
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