As posted on Facebook, I celebrated Passover at the home of "strangers" who graciously invited me to share in their family Seder. The hostess, a woman from Argentina and also a retired music teacher supervisor with specialization in Ladino, made me feel at home as soon as I arrived. There were 18 of us, from a 2-month old baby, to an elderly neighbour on a wheelchair, accompanied by her Philippine nanny. Then, there were grandparents, in laws, daughters, sons and three grandchildren in their teens. The latter made the evening all that more memorable, with their wit, curiosity and enthusiasm. Three of us, English speaker guests, included myself and a visiting American father and his daughter who is studying in TA University. My favourite part during the Seder was the singing of "Ehad Mi Yodeah." The song trails along 13 verses that are added at the top of the list, and the singing was accompanied by playful and descriptive gestures funnily enacted by the crowd. Everyone tried to keep up with the backward list of verses while throwing their hands upin the air to follow the lead of the enthusiastic teens.
While my heart yearned for the company of my loved ones in a more familiar setting, I cannot but revel in my good fortune for having had the unique experience of meeting new people with whom I have much in common, and who enacted the mitzvah of welcoming the stranger, in this case, me, with ease and grace. Ah...remember that is was happening in the very Land of Israel of which the Haggadah speaks of at Seder around the globe. For me, the verse read – "This Year in Jerusalem!"
These photos and short videos are but a glimpse of the interaction and love amongst family.
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