When I was a student at Arizona State University, I took a very interesting class which was entitled: "Judaism: Ritual, Symbol and Myth." The class was based on the evolution of the different customs, rituals, symbols and stories that the Jewish people have passed down throughout our existence. The class focused on historical rituals and customs along with their place in Judaism and what has caused customs and rituals to change over time.
The Holiday of Passover, also referred to as "Pesach" in Hebrew along with other names which include "Zman Cheruteynu, The time of our freedom" and "Chag Ha'aviv, The Holiday of the Spring". Passover is probably the holiday of holidays for the Jewish people. It is actually the most widely celebrated holiday, over 90% of American Jews attend some kind of Seder, the meal which is associated with the concept of freedom from slavery. Passover is celebrated more in the United States than Hanukkah or the High Holyday season by far.
Why is this the case? Because it is through the power of our Pesach rituals, foods, recipes, symbols, stories and customs that enable us to celebrate this Eight Day Holiday in so many different ways with so many different feelings and with so many different people. In the Caplan home, there are many rituals that Michelle, Brianah, Julia and I have created with our extended family that creates a sense of Passover belonging to us! It is important for each of us, as Jews, to find customs and rituals that link us to our history, our present and our future. It is equally important for us to create different customs at our Passover Seder table and throughout the entire holiday because we, the Jewish people continue to evolve as well.
Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan, the founder of the Reconstructionist Movement in the 20th Century and a teacher for many years at the Jewish Theological Seminary in Manhattan used to say that Judaism is an "evolving civilization". Just as the world around us is always changing, how we define our Judaism today is significantly different than how our Judaism was practiced hundreds of years ago.
One of the customs that the Caplan family has created is just before Passover. It is a custom on the morning of the First Seder, before Passover starts, to burn the Chametz that we have found in our homes the night before. In our family to light the Chametz on fire, we use the Lulav that we used on Sukkot months ago. It is a powerful custom for our children because they see it as a symbol that our Jewish calendar is related from one Holiday to the next. Is the using of the lulav to burn our chametz a custom (Minhag in Hebrew) or law (Mitzvah in Hebrew) that is proscribed in the Torah and Talmud? No, of course not. Rather it is a custom that has made its way into our family because we find it meaningful, unique and special. It is a custom that links our family to our Holidays, to our people, our tradition and God.
Over the course of Passover, I look forward to hearing from each of you regarding the special and one of a kind customs that your family brings in with pride and joy during this liberating time of year. Michelle, Brianah, Julia and I wish everyone here at Bet Shira a Chag Kasher V'Sameyakh, A Happy, Liberating and Kosher Passover.
Kol Tuv,
Rabbi Micah Caplan
