The Passover Seder is the prime time for families and friends to joyously participate in age old rituals and traditions that have defined the Jewish experience for millennia. At a table duly set with the Seder plate and its ingredients, prominently featuring Matzah and wine for all assembled, the proceedings of the evening follow the well-established template determined by our ancestors (as recorded in the Haggadah) to express the true meaning of the freedom we were granted 3,328 years ago.
While many Passover lessons are gleaned from the various components of the Seder, I would like to focus on an inherent natural aspect of the evening: The Seder is always celebrated under a full moon.
Shortly before the long-anticipated liberation from Egypt, G-d communicated the very first mitzvah: The technique of determining the Jewish calendar. The lunar cycle would hold the most central role while provisions were set to ensure that it remain aligned with the solar seasons. The schedule of Judaism would forever revolve around the moon. On the fifteenth of Nissan (full moon) the festival of Passover is to be celebrated. On the first of Tishrei (new moon) we are to observe Rosh Hashanah.
From the get-go, the destiny of our nation has been linked to the moon. As we experienced the cataclysmic transformation from a family of slaves in a foreign and hostile land to a free and independent nation we were directed to pay attention to the moon and its cycle.
Termed as the Nocturnal Luminary, it is the moon’s responsibility to reflect the light of the sun to illuminate the darkness of night. Yet its revealed effectiveness fluctuates over the course of thirty days. Due to its constantly changing posture it grows and recedes at a rapid pace. At times it is eclipsed by external forces as well. Yet, even when the moon is all but concealed in the vast black sky we are confident that it will return to its majestic glory in due course.
At the dawn of our freedom we were cautioned to be mindful of this reality. We are charged with the mission of illuminating the universe by reflecting the light of G-d through Torah study, Mitzvah observance and actively educating humanity the moral and ethical tenets of Judaism. At times we may not be postured appropriately to fulfill this role and there are cases when our light is eclipsed by external pressures of persecution and assimilation. Yet we are assured that this is only temporary and we are destined to be renewed and set to achieve fullness once again.
This message is pertinent in a personal sense as well. The journey of life is traveled on a road with successes and challenges – and one must never be disheartened by perceived setbacks. These are the stepping stones through which we achieve the greatest heights.
Throughout history the Seder has been celebrated in every imaginable setting. During eras of peace and prosperity and in the shadow of persecution and sorrow. Every time, under the graceful glow of a gloriously bright full moon.
May the celebration of our past redemption pave the way for the final redemption which will herald in an era of global peace and tranquility for all.
Best wishes for a Kosher and joyous Pesach!