Making Tradition

             

We went to Grandma and Grandpa's house for the seder.  Uncle Jason and Aunt Po were there.  We sat there together, reading the Hagaddah.  When we came to the 10 plagues, Aunt Po shared what her own family did--her uncle made bags for the children with an object for each plague, so when each plague was read out loud, the children had to rummage through their bag to find the appropriate object.  Sunglasses represented darkness.  Adorable.

 Unbeknowst to Levi, Uncle Jason broke off a piece of matzo, wrapped it in a towel and hid it.

After the seder ended Uncle Jason asked Levi, "Where's the matzo?"  

Levi wondered.  Where, indeed?

 Tradition has it that children search for the afikomen (piece of broken matzo taken from the seder).  Some are paid a handsome reward upon finding the afikomen.

Watching this made me think about how traditions are made.

We're a new family unit.  Douglas, Levi and me.  Two out of three people in this family are new Jews--one convert, one recently born.  For almost a decade I partook in the traditions of Douglas' family during each holiday, watching and learning.  For a few years I studied Judaism and visited Israel the summer before I completed my conversion.

With Levi here, I am more acutely aware that our new little family unit is in its formative years.  With the arrival of a little Jewish person, we have the responsibility of making holidays personal and meaningful.  Traditions are handed down from generation to generation, tweaked to meld with each household and the times.  That is going to be the basis of our celebrations.  

I look forward to the years of family and sharing and remembering.

What is your favorite Passover tradition?  How do you make a Passover seder meaningful and memorable for your child?