Springtime ushers in a sense of new life for many. For the Jewish community, yesterday brought that same revitalization with the beginning of Passover.
The annual celebration begins with the Seder, the communal meal beginning the eight-day-long rite of the Passover holiday. Hillel at Ohio University, 21 Mill St., held a special Seder for the Jewish members of the Athens community. More than 150 people attended the ceremony.
Representing the exodus of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt, the meal starts with readings from the Haggadah. The book contains recantations of the journey from slavery to salvation. Throughout the readings, a plate with food symbolizing the journey is eaten as part of the ceremony.
Parsley dipped in salt water represents tears shed in oppression during slavery; a zeroah, or lamb bone, is displayed to acknowledge the paschal sacrifice of lambs; moror, a bitter herb — in this case horseradish — represents the bitterness of slavery; beitzah, a roasted egg, symbolizes life; a green leaf conveys new life; and a dish called charoses made from apple and honey represents the sweetness of life and the Israelites admittance into the land of milk and honey.
Matzoh — kosher, cracker-like bread — is also eaten throughout the week in lieu of leavened bread.
“When (the Jews) fled from Egypt, they had to take the bread before it had time to rise,” said Evan Meles, an OU sophomore studying political science. “They had to bake the bread on rocks.”
Meles said that matzoh is eaten in solidarity of the diet their ancestors stomached for 40 days and nights in the desert.
An important aspect of the Seder is also the time spent with family and friends. For many students, being away from home for the Seder is an embraced but peculiar feeling.
“It’s definitely different; you’re just so used to going to someone’s house,” said Cameron Waterhouse, a junior studying communications.
Sitting next to him, John Hirsch, a junior studying finance and management information systems, chimed in.
“It’s a new experience,” Hirsch said. “It’s just nice to be with the Jewish community in Athens, which is pretty small. We don’t get to do that much together.”
At the same table sat Josh Gordon, a freshman studying aviation.
“For me, this is my first year away from home,” Gordon said. “It’s a little weird to not be at home, but it’s neat I get to meet new people.”
Passover, no matter the city, is a time for the Jewish population to convene, pay respects to their ancestors and celebrate the progress they have made as a people.
“It’s like the Jewish version of Thanksgiving,” Meles said.
mh317008@ohiou.edu
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