The Jews consider Passover as one of the most significant festivals. It is celebrated by the entire Jewish community with much pomp and fanfare throughout the world. This festival commemorates the release of the Jewish people from years of slavery under the ancient Egyptians. Passover, or Pesach, begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan. This falls in the month of March or April according to the Gregorian calendar. Since the festival occurs during the spring season, people consider the occasion as a new beginning. Celebrations include reciting of verses from the Isaiah book, lighting candles at night and feasting on traditional food for the first two nights. To add a spark of Passover in the festivities, we have brought some short poems pertaining to Passover. Read on to know them and let everyone learn the message of Pesach.
Short Poems For Pesach
Why Is This Night Different?
Why is this night different
now that we are older
and our children are with us
each one of us crosses the same desert
helping the stragglers
lifting the forlorn and lost
helping life into life
helplessness into healing hope
we are here together
hearing each story as if it were our own
committed to keeping the story alive
the journey going
- Ray Shankman
The Telling
Why is this night unlike all others
Are questions the youngest must say
We recline, we pray, we ask the Almighty
Please deliver us from Egypt this day.
Bitters and herbs are ours to consume
To remember the Exodus then
We eat, we drink, we cross the waters
Are pursued by Pharaoh and his men.
The Haggadah reading commands that we tell
How our ancestors toil, how they cry
We plead, we bend, we climb with Moses
And receive the tablets at Mount Sinai.
Elijah is here my father sings out
ALl bear witness as he flies
We tremble, we hide, we wait as he nears
We peer down through his ancient eyes.
- Brenda Spigelman Ajzenkopf
Part of Being Jewish Is a Choice
Part of being Jewish is a choice
As one becomes an act of preservation.
Seders start the stream of admonition,
Stories meant to bind one to the past.
On words alone the exiles had to last,
Verses reified by repetition,
Each an heirloom of a generation
Reared to give those ancient words a voice.
- Nicholas Gordon
Passover Celebrates That Glorious Day
Passover celebrates that glorious day
After the Lord passed over our first born,
Striking out in freedom on that dawn
So long ago, with God to lead the way.
Over 3,000 years have passed since that bright day:
Vicissitudes have died, and new ones born;
Each night of terror brings a brave new dawn,
Recalling us to our eternal way.
- Nicholas Gordon
