- JFCS News
There are about 14 million Jews in the world today—and so, as the saying goes, there are 14 million different ways of being Jewish. Making its way across this wide expanse of Jewish identity and affiliation is the Passover seder, which finds its way into millions of homes, more than any other Jewish ritual. In spite of the Jewish People’s great diversity, the seder continues to enjoy widespread appeal. Why?
The Passover seder was established a little under 2,000 years ago, in response to the urgent existential question that arose in the wake of Roman destruction of the Jerusalem Temple: In the absence of the Jewish People’s most central institution, around which all religious life had been organized, how could the Jewish People continue to tell its foundational story, the Exodus from Egypt, and observe its first and most formative ritual, the Passover sacrifice?
JFCS’ Annual Seymour Newstat Passover Seder for Cafe by the Bay Holocaust survivor clients.
The ancient rabbis answered this question by creating a ritual that would follow the Jews wherever they would go, one that would be observed in the home with family and friends. This family ritual would remember the Jerusalem Temple but would nonetheless remain relevant and meaningful anywhere in the world.
Indeed, the seder continues and thrives today because of the rabbis’ willingness to strike this balance between tradition and change. Innovation in the face of profound change is one of the hallmarks of the Jewish religion, and it is a fundamental reason why the Jewish people are still around after so many centuries and existential threats. We survive because we adapt and innovate, all the while remembering our collective past and finding ways to carry it forward into the future.
At JFCS, we continue in this essential work of honoring our past, applying its lessons to our present, and ensuring its relevance and continuity into the future. We find new ways to strike this balance between adapting and preserving, between change and tradition. Thank you, our staff and lay leadership, for your invaluable and ongoing contributions in this effort.
Chag Sameach—Happy Holiday!
Sincerely,
Rabbi Daniel Isaacson, Director of Spiritual Care Services, JFCS