Passover Insights

The Passover Seder is intended to give us empathy when, as slaves, we were given the opportunity to transition to a new way of being.

In Hebrew, Egypt is called Mitzrayim. The Zohar is the Jewish book of mysticism. It defines Mitzrayim as “narrow straits”. When God took us out of Mitzrayim, He extricated us from the place of constricted opportunities, tight control, and narrow-mindedness, where movement was severely limited.

Passover gives us the time out of place to evaluate our external or physical narrow straits. Perhaps it is financial or health constraints or, perhaps, personal tragedy. What do we pursue?

Does our stereotyping, prejudice, or exploitation oppress other people? Do we take their dignity or give them hope?

What our social distancing is taking from us allows us the opportunity to give us time for reflection.

May this season of Passovers, tribulations and Jesus Christs trials serve to help us all go through Mitzrayim to a collective future that reflects our status as homo sapiens “the wise humans”

This bronze Seder Plate, Exodus 12:24 was made for a Spertus Museum competition. It is laden with symbolism. Around the six sides are the 12 Tribes of Israel in their camping positions around the tabernacle, Beth, Hebrew for “house.” Around the Beth are translations of 5 Seder symbols. Beginning in the lower left the infant Moses and his parents are in the Gateway of Birth. The water root, Binah, is connected to Moses' water journey in the basket and the sea that he parted later in life. On the right is the adult Moses staff in hand holding the Ten Commandments. Air and Earth are in the top right corner opposite the Yod, or hand of God. The top invokes God's name ”Tetragrammaton” and Ain Soph Aur ”Limitless Light”, another name for God. It represents a spiritual state of awareness.

You are welcome to download the pdf of my black and white Exodus 12:24 Diagram to print out and color. I hope it will inspire you and help you to tap into the richness and wealth of the symbols.