Tomorrow is Passover. The celebration of the Jews leaving Egypt. In a plague. Ok, ten plagues. I mean, we’ve only got one and we’re not coping very well. But ten? TEN??? So the festival of Passover means that we have to tell ‘the story’. And because its a Jewish story it goes on and on. With everyone speaking at once. Lots of arguing. Shouting. Bit of singing.

As a consequence of which, the ‘seder’ dinner is a lot of fun. The story’s told, the songs are sang, bitter herbs are eaten, to remind of bitter times, horseradish is chewed, to remind us of… roast beef, matzos are eaten, the unleavened bread because the fleeing Israelites had to take their bread out of the fires in that state or wait til it had risen and missed the parting of the Red Sea through which they could escape slavery. For me, I’d have probably waited for the bread. I like bread and however bad slavery is, Egyptian whips don’t get stuck in your teeth. Or give you constipation.

The youngest person present has to ‘ask the four questions’, which start with ‘why is this night different from all others’.

But its a time for family. It’s a shared event. Last year there were about 30 people round the table. All participating. Ok, all forced by advance emails to participate. We hosted one with ‘just’ about 15, including Lila, obvs. Joey wasn’t born yet.

This year we’re all in isolation. It won’t be the same. Can’t be the same. Small groups. Not what God intended when he invented the whole thing, 3000 years ago. But heh, it is what it is. We are where we are. One plague. Family or single units.

Like my dad. 95 years old and doing brilliantly. Isolated but completely unbothered by coronavirus, even unbothered by the end of the football season. He’s that content. And today his synagogue sent him a Passover box. Everything he needs for the Seder, all the herbs and symbolic stuff and the kosher wine, then a meal, everything. Which is wonderful. Not that he’s so bothered about the Seder, having done 94 and quite frankly, they don’t change much with time. But he doesn’t have to cook. Which makes his life easier. But if he chooses to give himself a little service, he’ll have to ask the 4 questions. Being the youngest person present.

Happy pre-Passover Tuesday

A xxxx