Passover is around the corner! Or more precisely it is at the Sanibel Community House, Wednesday April 1st at 5p.m. and you are invited. Bat Yam Temple of the Islands has seating for members and non-members. Seating is on a first-reserved basis at a discounted early-bird price of $60 per adult, $30 for children and for children under 5, it is free, if you sign up now and mail your check to Bat Yam, Temple of the Islands, PO Box 84 Sanibel, Florida 33957-0084 by February 15th.  All are welcome!

Passover is the holiday that retells the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery in Egypt. 

The seder plate is the centerpiece of the table – with all the essential categories on the plate - parsley represents Spring, a charred egg reminds us of the burnt offering, lamb shank stands in for the sacrificial lamb, haroset ( mix of fruit, wine and nuts) is the mortar used by slaves to build Egyptian cities, the maror (bitter herbs represent the bitterness of slavery.) There is also a small bowl of salt water (the salt of our tears) We eat matzah (unleavened bread and drink four cups of wine as we make a blessing over liberty. The youngest member of the family asks the question, “Mah nishtanah halaylah hazeh,” “why is this night different from all other nights?” and the answer is because freedom needs to be cherished and on this night we remember what it feels like not to be free. Around Passover tables we reenact a ritual that is not yet complete. We pass on the story to our children, through reading the Haggadah, through asking the four questions, through explaining what the symbols mean on the seder plate, enjoying the delicious meal, drinking the four cups of wine, looking for the Afikomen, welcoming Elijah, singing all the seder standards- this is our mitsvah – to teach our children.

There has always been a custom of intellectual banquets, during which religion and philosophy were discussed. It is to this idea that the Jews turned when deciding how to celebrate the story of our liberation from Egypt. It is this celebration of our freedom, which is recorded at Passover every year. Rabbi Sunny Schnitzer will be talking to us about the essence of the holiday, which commemorates the Biblical story of Exodus. 

Around the Passover tables in 2026, Jews will feel that our history has become vividly alive. Part of the service says, we must feel as if we personally left Egypt. This year we do not need that prompt. On the one hand we are liberated Jews and on the other hand we are painfully aware of the rise of anti-semitism, not only in far-away Australia, but right here, on American soil. This year we are living history and rather than exhort Pharoah to “Let my people go!” we could say to the world, “Let my people be!” Generation after generation hands the story of Passover on to future generations. We never take liberty for granted. 

Our Passover seder is a highlight of our year, so please join us and add to the celebration. A Chag Sameach to all!