Jews are crazy!
These crazy people get together for a dinner party.
It sounds nice, yes?
They sit together and have a nice glass of wine, good.
Then they eat some parsley.
After that little bite of food, they talk and they talk and they talk.
They ask questions, they tell stories, they sing songs (what's to sing about on an empty stomach), they might even act out a play.
On and on it goes.
Finally, when your stomach is growling, as you smell the food cooking, and your head is nodding from the second glass of wine, they announce the meal.
They put some food in front of you.
Don't be fooled.
First they give you a dry cracker.
Then they put a large hunk of vegetable in front of you.
Be warned!
They call it a bitter herb. They aren't kidding. It is bitter, tears pour from your eyes as they announce that you can eat a sandwich.
Guess what?
The sandwich is more of the cracker and more of that bitter herb.
And just when your taste buds are on fire, a feast is served.
The food is good and you relax.
They even tell you how to relax. You have to lean on one side.
Finally, when you have stuffed yourself, they announce dessert.
Amazingly, it is more of the cracker business!
More wine, more talk and finally, you can go home.
Jews are crazy!
No, Jews aren't crazy.
We are tribal and we wish to tap into that mystical mystery of life. And what has just been described is the Passover Seder. However, from the point of view of someone
closed to the mystery and
who stands outside the tribal camp.
For those who are willing to open their hearts and minds and souls, the Passover Seder becomes a '
soul transporter.'
It takes us back to a time of slavery and liberation. It challenges us to become aware of our tribal roots and our mystical branches. We '
return to those exciting days of yesteryear' when we first discovered that freedom is not free. We travel through ages to share moments filled with tyrants and torments, teachers and transcendental times. We taste fear and freedom in the Matzah that we eat. We re-turn, re-experience, re-view re-live and re-new that mystical moment when we burst the bonds of slavery and entered into holy service to our G, our world, to our fellow human beings and to our spiritual selves.
Not a bad way to spend an evening, really.
And, if you would like to experience this journey to soul liberation, Rocky Mountain Hai will be guiding a Passover Seder on the second night of Passover, Sunday, April 20 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. Contact us at MountainHai@comcast.net or call us at (303) 927-6534 for all the details. (This event is also listed on the YourHub calendar.)