why is this night different than all other nights?

on this night we gather and make a raucaus group singing and praying and eating with our hands and telling ancient and not so ancient stories about everyone from  moses and miriam to my brother drooling on me as friendly torture. It is my husband's favorite holiday and my second favorite  ( sukkot tops my list) and the tradition brings us closer to the critical things in life like: respect, freedom, tolerance, second chances, helping others and empathy.

dinner was orange chicken - wild rice- asparagus - with poached pears for dessert. the huevos haminados were exceptionally good this year. not to mention my horseradish. Plus up here there are so many jews that they sell kosher lamb bones in the store so I didn't have to butterfly a leg of lamb in order to get a leg shank. Good thinking portland grocers !!!

Eliahu Hanavi