It is shocking to behold the level of ignorance most people have these days for things once considered part of the warp and woof of American life, especially religious life. Even religious Christians are often hard-pressed to answer basic questions regarding their own faith, let alone that of other traditions. So, I make it a point to note significant holidays to the crew. It’s amazing how many would forget Easter if I didn’t remind them, but especially Jewish holidays, like Passover, require a reminder if any other than the observant Jew is to be aware. And really Christians should be aware of this feast. It is, after all, the type that for us is fulfilled in the life of Christ Jesus. Have a blessed Passover today.
This evening begins one of the holiest seasons for the Jewish people. The Feast of Passover, Pesach in Hebrew, is a commemoration of the Exodus, when God freed His people from bondage to the Egyptians. It’s a remarkable story that involves plagues, late-night escapes, chases, miracles like the parting of the Red Sea, and that’s only in the beginning.
The feast is also known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Israelites left Egypt in such a hurry that they didn’t have time to wait for their bread to rise. So for seven days every year, Jews eat matzah—unleavened bread—to remember.
Matzo features prominently in the Passover Seder, which is a ritual meal filled with symbolism, from the matzo and bitter herbs that are eaten to the wine that is shared at the conclusion everything is imbued with recollections of their people’s escape from Egypt, their wandering in the desert, and their hope of arriving at the Promised Land.
Tonight, in honor of Passover, I’d like to share one of the traditional blessings prayed during the Passover Seder.
LET US PRAY
And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
The heaven and the earth were finished, and all their array. On the seventh day God finished the work that God had been doing, and God ceased on the seventh day from all the work that God had done. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because on it God ceased from all the work of creation that God had done. (Genesis 1:31-2:3)
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has chosen us from among the peoples, exalting us by hallowing us with mitzvot. In Your love, Adonai our God, You have given us Shabbatot of rest, feasts of gladness and seasons of joy; this Shabbat day and this festival of Pesach, season of our freedom, a sacred occasion, a remembrance of the Exodus from Egypt. For You have chosen us from all the peoples and consecrated us to Your service, and given us Shabbat, a sign of love and favor, and the Festivals, a time of gladness and joy.
Blessed are You, Adonai, who sanctifies Shabbat, Israel, and the Festivals.
Praise to You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, for giving us life, for sustaining us, and for enabling us to reach this season.
AMEN
An Orthodox Priest Abroad 
That is interesting. I guess I never gave it much thought, but you are a chaplain to all faiths? That must be challenging. I enjoy reading your entries. I don’t know if you remember my daughter, Sarah, but she was in the Army Reserves for 8 years. Her husband is still in the Army. I keep them in mind when I read your entries. Thank you for sharing. Liz Lumb
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Yes, of course, I remember Sarah. She was one of our most faithful GOYAns. It is weird to hear her 8 years of military service in past tense. It has been a while.
I am a chaplain to all faiths in the sense that I make certain that everyone has the ability to worship according to their own tradition, but I never stop being a priest. So I never lead anything that isn’t Orthodox or specifically Christian when it comes to worship.
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