Sh'vi'i L'Fesach -- The 7th Day of Pesach

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.