A Mexican Passover

My sweetie and I were invited to a Mexican Seder this weekend. Our hosts meant a Seder for Passover—with Mexican food for the menu. I told some Jewish friends of mine about it and they were disbelieving. Mexican food is not, as a rule, kosher food. How does one have a Seder without kosher food? It’s easy, you serve what you feel like serving.

The point of the Seder wasn’t the menu. The point was the gathering of friends and family to recognize a significant tradition: the passing over of the plague which killed first-born children. It got me thinking about Passover.

Is there something in your life at this moment that you would like to have pass you over? A disease? A relationship? A choice? A responsibility? A debt? Invite it to pass over your life.

We read from a modern Haggadah, taking turns. It seemed significant to me, who read what passage. Mine were the Candles and Miriam’s Cup.

Candles. Fire. Flame. I am mindful that the Divine Spark of me is wanting to burst into Divine Flame. Fire and passion for the things, people, places, incidents of my life.

Miriam’s Cup is a newish tradition in Reform practice celebrating the contribution of Miriam, Aaron’s sister.

In our Seder, we passed a red wine glass and each person at the table added a soupcon of water from his or her own glass. Water represents emotion in the understanding of the mystics. To me, it signified that we all feel things together on this planet, and our feelings, both personal and collective, matter.

Miriam’s Cup celebrates Miriam’s Well. I was more than willing to celebrate the “Well”ness of all of us present, and in the world.

Holidays or Holy Days are wonderful opportunities for a full stop and recognition of your own spiritual process. No matter the menu.

P. S. The Mexican food was exemplary!