As it is Passover, i feel the need to say a few things.

first off, i do not view myself as a religious person, my roll in Judaism is based on tradition and family heritage, not spiritual belief, and I hope that no one interprets this post as some push on your own beliefs, believe me that is not my intention at all.

having said that, i'd like to share what Passover means to me. in a nutshell it is the celebration of the Israelites exodus from Egypt and and slavery. Every year, for thousands of years, we have re-told the story and asked the same questions, insuring that the story is never forgotten. But to me and my family, (and a thousand others i'm sure) it is more than just a celebration of a story. it is a time to not only look at the past, but also the present, and future. a time to think about those still in bondage, those still suffering, those who have yet to taste the sweet wine of freedom. and a time to look to the future, to think about what we, as individuals, and as communities can to do make the world a better place.
During the Pesah seder we invite all wonderer's to come and share what we have. it's a time to stop and open our hearts to those less fortunate, and lend a hand to those who need it most. because while we have what we need, so many people do not. and those people need to not be forgotten. While we celebrate our lives, we must also look to how we can help others celebrate their own.

I wanted to share with you a reading from the Haggadah my family uses, that continues to touch me every year.

From darkness to light, from slavery to freedom, from winter to spring, and now from bitterness to sweetness. But with the light, there is still darkness in the world. With our freedom, there are still those who are enslaved. It is still winter for some, and life remains bitter for many throughout our world.
Even in our own lives, we live within the tapestry of these contradictions. It is dark, and it is light; we are trapped, and we are liberated; we are cold, and we are warm; we experience pain and joy, just as we have eaten the maror with the haroset, taking the bitter with the sweet.
Through this act, we acknowledge the fullness of life, shaded by the gradations of experience; never black and white but a reflection of the full range of possibilities.
-Joy Levitt

I'm thankful for you all, for everything you have tout me, and for the community you provide. I always make a point of acnologing those important to me during Passover. Thanks for letting me knock one off the list =^.^=

Much love from Sweden,
D

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Yes my name is D... Yes as in the letter... No i wont tell you what it stands for!!!

What a beautiful post! Thank you for sharing!

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Amy

Well said "D"! Somethings to keep in mind!
Thank you for posting it!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!