Community Chat

[traveler]

For some reason I was expecting Passover to be a week or so different than Easter.  This year it's April 22, am I right? 

[MacDUFF]

Yes, Passover starts at sundown on 4/22.

The angel of death has passed over us!

[PhilaLady1]

Brings back memories when I was a kid. My birthday is April 23 and whenever Passover days fell on my birthday, my Grandmother would make a birthday cake with matzo meal instead of flour and most of the children at my birthday party refused to eat it. Except me.

[MacDUFF]

@PhilaLady1

More cake for you!  

[dfyre]

Yes - DH is Jewish and I'm not. It will be so nice to not have to cook two meals on Easter!

[KYToby]

Tje following is from my friendly neighborhoof rabbi on the date issue:

JUST IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING why Passover comes out a month later than Easter this year:

Once upon a time when the Church of the West (Rome) and the Church of the East (Constantinople) were one happy (?!) family, all of Christendom celebrated Easter on the first Sunday of the first new moon after the spring equinox. That's a roundabout way of saying "on the Sunday of Passover."

EXCEPT that the West decided that they would conform to the "Sunday of Passover" rule, even on ...Jewish leap years.

This is a Jewish leap year. The leap year adds another month of Adar II seven times each 19 years.

The Western Church always tags Easter to the 12-month year, even on leap years. Thus, on Jewish leap years, like this year, the Western Church celebrates Easter a month before Passover, while Jews celebrate Passover based on a 13-month year. Hence, the disparity.

The Eastern Church (except for the Greek), however, always tags their Easter to the Sunday of Passover, regardless of whether or not it is a regular or leap year. That's why on Jewish leap years, the Eastern Church celebrates Easter a month later, while the Western Church does not. Orthodox Easter always falls out on the Sunday of Passover -- regular or leap. More authentic, of course.

[MacDUFF]

Also, FYI, this evening is the Purim celebration.  Not a Biblically mandated observance, like Passover, but a fun and joyous remembrance of the story told in the Book of Esther.  I just read an article saying that the synagogues in Brussels are considering canceling their Purim celebrations, which I think would make the very brave and beautiful Queen Esther sad.

[hennypenny]

Just home from Gelson's. Bought Easter stuff, Purim stuff and bought a couple of things to tuck away for Passover. They now have gluten free matzohs and noodles, but still no carb free-----sniff.

I have always stood up to bullies, but Brussels is a scary place right now. I don't know if I would want my kids in Shul tonight.

[ms traditional]

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@MacDUFF wrote:

Also, FYI, this evening is the Purim celebration.  Not a Biblically mandated observance, like Passover, but a fun and joyous remembrance of the story told in the Book of Esther.  I just read an article saying that the synagogues in Brussels are considering canceling their Purim celebrations, which I think would make the very brave and beautiful Queen Esther sad.

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Mordecai and Esther were early upstanders against genocide. They remind us to stand up for what is right - not to cower in the corners.  Their tradition is just the right one to celebrate in light of Brussels 

[MacDUFF]

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@ms traditional wrote:

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Mordecai and Esther were early upstanders against genocide. They remind us to stand up for what is right - not to cower in the corners.  Their tradition is just the right one to celebrate in light of Brussels 

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Yes, I agree.  Although I do understand the fear and may not want my children at synogogue tonight, I would make da## sure the enemy knew that I still celebrated...that I was joyful in spite of them...that I trusted Him, and not men.  I want them to know that, even though the light in Europe may be growing dim (again), the spirit of Mordecai and Esther lives on.  And I want them to cower in fear knowing that.