Jews break bread for holy festival night

NEW DELHI: It was an evening of celebrations at Chabad House where Israelis tourists as well as those living in Delhi gathered on Wednesday. In an unusual coincidence, the festival of Pesach or Passover this year was to take place on the same day as a rare event in Jewish calendar occurring every 28 years Birkat Hachammah, which means the blessing of the sun.
While the Passover commemorates the end of slavery of Jewish people in Egypt, Birkat Hachammah marks the sun's return on the fourth day of earth's creation."Today is the holy night celebrated by Israelis across the world. At midnight, it's our belief, the gates of heaven will open and we will see light,'' said Dina Abramson. She added that from businessmen to diplomats andtourists to common people who are in search of what lies within them come together and join in the festivities.
Besides the traditional food, singing and chanting of religious sayings as well as dancing are an essential part of the festivities. Preparations had begun many weeks ago. To remember the suffering of their forefathers who lived in Egypt, a bread, known as Matza, is consumed on this occasion. It is hard and has no taste.
Once the festival begins, food cannot be cooked as one is not allowed to light a flame. And so, to arrange for a feast for the over 80 guests at Chabad House, Matza was being prepared till 4am on Wednesday morning. "We're going to have this bread for the next seven days. It will remind us of the tough times our ancestors faced when they lived in the forests during their struggle to attain freedom and liberty. Even the eggs and potato we eat on Pesach are hard-boiled. It's a simple meal, but holds a lot of significance,'' said Eli Clarke, who is from Israel and has an export business in Delhi. She added, "We have brough pickled cucumbers though not a part of the religious tradition, they're a favourite.''
The day celebrated the importance of freedom and welcomed spring. All guests had the holy book Hagada which narrated the story of the Passover. Several instances from the book were read out aloud over wine each person had to take four glasses as it's an auspicious number in Judaism.
The message is of peace. "We would hope everyone does good deeds,'' observed Clarke and Dina. However, the celebrations at Delhi's Chabad House were not as grand as in the previous years. "I know of a lot of people who did not come perhaps because they thought it will not be safe. The terror threats seem to have made a difference because the turnout has been very low this year,'' Clarke lamented.