Motherhood

*Pssst: In this post, I’ll tell you how my family started a simple Passover tradition that we look forward to every year… and how you can too!  But hang in there, and let me tell you the heart behind it first!

If you’re like me, starting a new tradition with your kids (in the middle of the school year, no less) feels daunting at best.  (Downright impossible sometimes?)

But there’s an old saying I’ve clung to since a prof handed it down to me in college: “Something is always better than nothing.”  (This was nursing school, and she was talking about vital signs.  But it applies, right?)

And that’s why, over the years, rather than trying to make our traditions perfect (and therefore, failing, then giving up) I’ve learned to focus on two goals: doable and meaningful.  That’ll surely stick with them, right?

We are Christians, yes, and we celebrate Easter – but Passover has also become one of those very special traditions for us.  Maybe it’s because of my Jewish roots on my Dad’s side.  Maybe it’s because the kids and I have fallen in love with every story we encounter that’s oriented around a Jewish family.  Or maybe it’s because Jesus Himself celebrated Passover.

For those reasons and more, I’ve come to believe Passover can be very important for Jewish and non-Jewish Christians.  It is a way for us to remember, and teach our children, the way God rescued the Israelites long ago – and the way He still rescues us today.  Best of all, it’s a way for us to celebrate our Once-and-for-all Passover Lamb whose blood saved us, Jesus.

There are experts out there who can do a far better job than I when it comes to instructing you on how to set up a Passover meal, and I’ll reference some of them at the end of this post (not ads, just resources that have helped me; sharing is caring!)  Till then, I’d like to just share with you the simple elements and a go-to list to make Passover a little easier for you.

Ingredients for your Seder Plate:

1. Bitter herbs or horseradish, representing the slavery that Jews were under in Egypt.

2. A shankbone, representing the sacrifice of the lamb made on that first Passover night.

3. Charoset: may be fresh or dried fruit, representing the stones that the Jews used to build the pyramids for Pharoah.

4. A second bitter herb.

5. A vegetable such as lettuce, representing how the Jews initially prospered in the Promised Land.

6. A roasted egg, representing mourning, and reminding us of the destruction of the temple.

** A helpful graphic with more instructions for your Passover plate can be found here at Joyofkosher.com.

And here is a beautiful, artistic interpretation of what the Seder plate means.

Some other important elements for your Passover table:

~Matzah bread (bread is unleavened at Passover because we remember: the Jews fled Egypt so fast, they didn’t have time to wait for their bread to rise!)

~A bowl of salt water: symbolizing the tears of the Israelites.

~Wine or grape juice (helping us to remember and celebrate the freedom God has given us).  Actually there is a tradition involving four cups of wine!  See Chabad.org for the why and the how of that.

~A hostess: the woman of the house! (That’s you, mama.)  Who lights the candle and says the blessing.

~Dessert: remember, Passover is a celebration.  There are too many fun Passover desserts for me to list – to see for yourself, check Pinterest!

~You may have heard of the Four Questions.  What a fun way to engage our kids and get them really thinking.  You can read more about that at kveller.com

~The last and most important ingredient: Family.  Grab your kids, your neighbors, your friends: Passover, like every celebration in this life of following God, is meant to be spent together. {And children have been a valued part of it throughout the ages.}

Today, my nine year-old asked me: “When are we celebrating Passover?”  On Friday, I know that my three normally VERY WIGGLY children will sit quietly at the table as we sample each item on the plate and talk about the reason for it.  There is just something special about Passover; something special about dimming the lights, lighting a candle, and remembering what God did for the Israelites on that night.  There is something special when we learn what it all really means – what Jesus’ death on the Cross really fulfilled.

Of course, you want to share the story of the first Passover with your children sometime during this special night.  You can do that right out of your Bible (Exodus 12) ; I’ve also found that these Exodus story cards from Kids Read Truth are very handy:
They’re fun and beautiful; bright, visual, and as the kids put the pieces of the puzzle together, the puzzle of the story comes together in their minds, too.

The last resources I will share:

Visit MyJewishLearning.comto learn more about how and why we celebrate Passover

Attend your local Messianic congregation: what an adventure!

Visit your local Jewish market (they will be sure to know what you need to conduct a Passover)

Thank you, friends; I know this post is a little different from what I usually share; I promise to be back with more heartfelt mommy-encouragement next time.  But for now, I hope this blessed you, and I hope you’re inspired to learn a little bit more about this important holy-day. Off to make some chocolate frosting for my matzah cake!

For Jesus,

Laura