From the City of Springfield to the quiet corners of small towns throughout the Pioneer Valley, a distinct energy is in the air. Preparing for Passover is a communal choreography of shopping and preparing, and it is much the same in every town with a Jewish presence throughout the world. While many among us are proud vegetarians or farm-to-table chefs, it seems like this one holiday, the search for the perfect brisket or a specific brand of matzah often sends families on "supply runs" down I-91 to West Hartford, east to Boston or even further south to kosher hubs in New York and New Jersey.
The preparation is as much about the "talk" as it is the task. In local havurahs, book clubs, Maj Jong groups and synagogues from Greenfield to Longmeadow, the air is thick with discussions: Who has the best horseradish root this year? Did the kosher-for-Passover wine shipment arrive at the JCC? Can you believe how much they are charging for a box of matzah (and did you notice how much smaller/thinner they have become?).
This physical scouring of "chametz" (leaven) mirrors an internal spring cleaning. For those in our more rural stretches, the drive to the city for supplies becomes a meditative part of the ritual—a transition from the solitude of the hills to the vibrant, crowded market in West Hartford or Monsey.
At the heart of our homes sits the Seder plate, a visual syllabus of Jewish history and hope. Each element is a sensory bridge to the past:
• Maror: The bitter herbs, stinging the tongue to remind us of the bitterness of slavery.
• Charoset: A sweet mixture of fruit and nuts representing the mortar used by enslaved Israelites.
• Karpas: A green vegetable dipped in salt water, symbolizing the pain of tears mixed with the hope of new spring growth.
And there are “new traditions” that many have adopted:
• An Orange: Representing the inclusion of LGBTQ+ Jews and others who have felt marginalized with the Jewish community. The orange’s segments stick together to form a whole symbolizing that the community is only complete when everyone is included.
• A Potato: Commemorating “Operation Solomon” in 1991 which brought thousands of Ethiopian Jews to Israel. Upon arrival, many were so emaciated they could only digest simple food like boiled potatoes.
• Olives: A universal symbol of peace which represents the hope for a future coexistence and peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
