Tonight marks the first night of Passover, the commemoration of the Jews' liberation from slavery. Like millions around the world, I'll be sitting down to Seder to celebrate, in my case with a completely religiously and culturally mixed-up mishpocheh. I'm not Jewish, but Passover is one of my favorite nights of the year. With all of its rituals, this holiday takes eating mindfully to a whole new and incredible level, with every foodstuff, prayer and movement geared towards revisiting and renewing the ancient story of bitterness and then emancipation.
Ancient Jewish sages like Maimonides say that those who lengthen or elaborate upon telling the story of the Exodus are worthy of praise. Regardless of one's personal religious beliefs (or lack thereof) or cultural ties (ditto), taking time to think and talk together about enslavement and liberation seems like an honorable pursuit, whether it takes the form of poring over the recently issued New American Haggadah, piecing together bits of various texts or pulling out wine-stained Maxwell House haggadot.
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