Ephraim Borowski

Jerusalem calendar week that recalls the destruction of the temples in Jerusalem, on the exile of Jewish nation by the Babylonian some two and half thousand years ago. The exiled were eventually return and rebuild the temple as the new testament narrative attest.

This is a season to be glad, we're officially two 2 days in spring, trees are bloom, birds are nesting, and a long last light at end of dark tunnel of pandemic. As of yesterday, places of worship are open, albeit restrictions on numbers and necessary measure such as masks, sanitiser, and social distancing to protect ourselves and others. For the Jewish community this is particularly timely, tomorrow night we begin to observe the festival of the passover, we celebrates both spring and liberation, marking the beginning of barley harvest of ancient Israel, and commemorating the release of jewish people in captivity in Egypt more than 3000 years ago. The formal event on the first night known as the seder, is full of symbolism, that was devised by the rabbi, to encourage children to ask questions, so we can answer them with the story of Exodus. Everything we do read even at eat of the seder is design to remind the sight of captivity and joy of liberation. 11 breads to remind ourselves that Jewish people didn't find time to bake properly as they fled from slavery. Bitter herbs recalls the cruelties they suffered, salt water to represent their tears, the hard unflavoured Matzo is also a symbol of hardship, but we take with wine, recline on pillows and have a feast of meal to symbolise freedom.

In any other year, this jewish festival would lack atmosphere, mainly to remember events in ancient Persia around 2 and half thousand years ago, as biblical story describe.