Passover 07

Passover, one of Judah's favorite holidays, in fact even his colleagues at Huntington Memorial Hospital at a memorial service for Judah, mentioned his love of the holidays, Udah took special joy in Passover, loved to search for the chometz, the unleavend bread the night before the holiday, went to services for the first born, and always wanted his friends to fill the table no matter how crowded, The two most memorable seders were the last two with him. He had undergone his second stem cell transplant and was no longer in strict isolation but was limited to what he could eat. Benji Alissa Grandpa and I brought a whole seder meal to the hospital. The nurse gave us the lounge and ten members of the staff joined us. Judah rallied his utmost strenght to get dressed and come to the Seder. Benji was prepared to lead it, but Judah sat right up and said I want to do this. He did, the staff was mesmerized by his explications and erudition. I was certain that the strength he showed would pull him thru. He gave me hope.

The other seder was the prior year. Seymour had passed away, Judah was in between treatments and he lead the Seder. At the conclusion of the seder, Judah said to every one "thank you for coming", the exact phrase Seymour had used the year before. I was in the kitchen and nearly dropped the plate in my hand. Judah knew.

This year, we held the Seder with familiar faces and new ones. Dave and Stacey were there, Jack Judah stayed with his grandparents, but Meri's Daniel (named for Judah's middle name) was here. So new shoots were spring up.

We dedicated the Seder to the memory of Judah, Seymour, with reverance and love to my mom, whose receipies we used, to my in laws and all the others who now populate my memory.

Chag Sameach,
Happy Holidays.