This too is Yonkers–by Eric Schoen
Passover is before us. It usually starts with a big family dinner or Seder. One purpose of the dinner is to encourage inquisitiveness in Jewish children, Children play a key role in the ceremony asking four questions during the specially prepared meal.
Those four questions are central to understanding the purpose of the Passover celebration. Each centers around why the Seder meal is different from other meals.
The Seder involves dipping a vegetable in salt water, eating unleavened bread and — for adults — drinking four glasses of wine. Other steps include hand washing and reciting blessings. But because of the Coronavirus, a terrible plague affecting the world, things are very different this year!
On Passover we gather with family and friends around the dinner table. I’ve had over. 20 people in my apartment for the Seder meal. Why do we just gather with immediate family this year?
We traditionally greet our family and friends with big hugs and kisses. This year we may bump elbows or blow air kisses as we have masks covering our noses and mouths.
Traditionally, We go to the grocery store and the aisles are filled with foods and many special items just for Passover. This year, 5 pound boxes of matzah were scarce on Monday. Plenty of Passover foods are available, but basics like toilet paper, paper towels and diapers are not.
We see our friends and neighbors out shopping for food and clothing for this special holiday and greet them warmly. This year our greetings may consist of a wave of the hand with no physical touching and a minimum 6 feet between us. Only a limited number of people are allowed in the store, separated with tape markings every 6 feet.
Grocery shopping would be a family affair, looking for treats for the young ones to enjoy as their elders consumed gefilte fish. This year, we are asked to shop one person per family to keep everyone safe. Special store hours are set up early in the morning for our elderly and the immune compromised so they can shop without fear of getting ill.
We was our hands at several occasions during the Passover meal. This year, we constantly wash our hands from the minute we walk into the house until the time we are ready to leave with anti-bacterial soap and warm water, afraid we could pick up the Coronavirus and spread it to others.
We would normally take a break from school studies for Passover and Easter. As we try to meet the 180 minimum schools days this year the breaks are gone. No time off for Passover or Easter this year. Our children spend their time learning via video tools at home.
Nonessential businesses are forced to shutter their doors. The haircut we would normally get for Passover or for that matter Easter cannot occur as barber shops are closed. Ladies can’t get their hair coiffed as beauty and nail salons shuttered to stop close contact and virus transmission..
The Baseball season, a sign that spring is here has not yet begun. There is fear that players could could get ill. Some sports began their series and have not completed them. Will we be playing golf in September, October and November on the East Coast? As for fall sports, no one knows what will occur. Our sports watching has been limited to games and competitions from happier days.
Our beautiful playgrounds and in many places parks are closed. It’s hard to keep children’s play areas clean. But many have closed due to repeated warning from officials for social distancing that have not been followed.
The Broadway season which would be opening many shows in time for the Tony Awards in June ground to a halt early in March. As did concerts, arts and other forms of entertainment. Watching a Broadway show on television just doesn’t come close to a live performance.
With no large gatherings of people we can’t have those beautiful weddings we look forward to attending and once in a lifetime proms and graduation ceremonies might never take place. Funerals are limited to immediate family. Our friends and relatives in nursing homes and assisted living are in quarantine. We are lucky if we can wave hello to them through a window.
Synagogue and Church services are over the Internet. Just doesn’t have the feeling of being there in person. Instead of the synagogue having a Matzah Brei feast for all to participate in, the talented ‘chef’ rabbi presents a program online to show you unique ways to may this festive treat.
We communicate with our doctors virtually. As long as there is a video and audio hookup our insurance pays for the visit with no copayment required.
Our streets and roads are bare and you don’t know who is saying hello to you through the facial coverings and masks everyone is wearing.
We are living through a sad and yes difficult time. Our leaders tell us to stay in with the exception of going for food, medicine or exercise. And I haven’t even touched on the economy and the many people out of work unable to pay the mortgage or the rent.
We pray that our misery comes to an end. During the Great Depression and the Holocaust many had it worse than we do. We must help those who can’t help themselves. Pray for the many ‘helpers’ out there whether they be a doctor ventilating a patient or a cashier wringing up our groceries.
And remember things could be a lot worse. And are going to be a lot better. A Joyous Passover for you and your family and a most Happy Easter. Remember many in this world will not have the food we are blessed to have on our tables for Passover and Easter this year or any year!
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericyonkers. Listen to Eric Schoen and Dan Murphy on the Westchester Rising Radio Show Thursday’s from 10-11 a.m. On WVOX 1460 AM, go to WVOX.com and click the arrow to listen to the live stream or download the WVOX app from the App Store free of charge.
