Celebrating Pesach

Charles Flum President

Pesach is one of several holidays during which we give thanks to God. In this case, we are thankful for the deliverance from Egypt, a moment which has defined many aspects of Judaism for thousands of years. The holiday actually has four names: Zman Cherutainu (Season of our Freedom), Chag Hapesach (Festival of the Pascal Lamb), Chag Hamatzot (Holiday of Matzah) and Chag HaAviv (Holiday of Spring).

Originally, Pesach was two festivals. The oldest is Chag Hapesach. When Jews were still a nomadic people, they celebrated the beginning of spring with an animal sacrifice. Chag Hamatzot was a spring festival to celebrate the beginning of the grain harvest. Before cutting the grain, they would discard all the fermented dough. In time, the two became one as the Exodus was celebrated in the spring.

A Pesach joke

A Jewish airplane manufacturer had just built a new type of airplane. The test pilot got inside the plane and taxied down the runway. Just before he took off, the wings of the plane fell off and it was back to the drawing board. Months later, the test pilot revved the engine of the new plane, taxied down the runway and the wings fell off — back to the drawing board again.

Shabbat morning, the airplane manufacturer was in shul. After services, he told his rabbi about the wings falling o the new plane. The rabbi thought a moment, then advised the man, “put holes along the wing at the point the wings break.”

The man thought it was nuts but decided to take his rabbi’s advice.

The test pilot revved the engine, taxied down the runway and took off for a beautiful maiden flight. The manufacturer couldn’t believe putting in the holes worked. He went to his rabbi. “Rabbi, putting the holes in the wings worked perfectly. How did you know this?” His rabbi said, “Have you ever been able to break a matzah along the lines with the holes? If it works for matzah, why not for airplanes?”

Join our community Seder

On April 5, Naples Jewish Congregation will host a community Seder led by Rabbi Herman at Cypress Woods Country Club. Tickets are available through March 27 and can be ordered at www.naplesjewishcongregation.org. The cost for nonmembers is $60 for adults and $18 for children 12 and under. This will be a full Seder with the traditional Pesach foods. Please come and join us.

You can also join us for services on Friday nights, 7 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist church just o Pine Ridge Road in Naples. We would love to welcome you to the small congregation with the big heart.