Yom Tov

[cellio]

Ok, this year I'm going to make a real try at the final day of Pesach being a holiday. It is, after all; the Torah is unambiguous on the subject. And it's really the only Torah holiday I don't do, until now. But for some reason I have trouble with the idea, like it's not "real" or "important" or something. Part of it is probably that it doesn't have "stuff" (ritual objects, special foods or meals, etc). It's got special liturgy, but so does Rosh Chodesh (first day of the month), along with assorted other non-holiday days. So maybe it feels too much like a day of "don't" rather than a day of "do"; I'm not sure.

But I'm going to observe it anyway, because it really seems like I should. And besides, I'm chanting the Torah portion that specifies this in a few weeks, and that just makes it even more obvious to me. (I didn't pick the portion, so there's nothing subconscious going on with that.)

Comments

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

My former rabbi used to tell a story on the first of the last two days of Passover. When he and his family came home after going to evening services, his mother would greet them by saying, "Last week was Tatty's seder. This week is Mommy's." (Yes, Mommy. My former rabbi is now in his forties and has a son in rabbinical school, but he still calls his mother "Mommy." It's sweet.)

I like the last two days of Pesach. They're *quiet*. There are no special ceremonies, as you said. Just the basic holiday services and Hallel. It's just...pure yom tov. All the other holidays have *stuff* involved special to them. I mean, at this point in the holiday, I'm used to having a kitchen covered in aluminum foil and using my cheap and makeshift Pesach utensils and cooking with all the extra restrictions, so this is just...quiet.