Passover, the

the Passover

今月22日から30日までの1週間、ユダヤ教の祝日のため、ユダヤ教徒の人々は伝統的な儀式でお祝いを楽しんでいるようです。

A Senior Seder

Last spring, shortly after her 96th birthday, my mother finally admitted that she was no longer able to make the trip to New York City for Passover. Instead, my partner and I decided we would fly down to Virginia to be with her for the holiday. We would do the shopping, the cooking and the setup. We encouraged her to invite other residents of her senior living complex to celebrate with us.

The night of the first Seder, the line up of walkers stretched far down the hallway. Our company included Hilda, 101; Mona, 98; Ruth, 94; and Shirley, 91. The matzo balls and brisket — “though not the way I used to make them” — received glowing reviews. “This is the best meal I have had in three years,” one of the ladies offered. “Since the day I moved into this place.” Recollections of loved ones and holiday celebrations long past added a bittersweet note to the proceedings.

As the ritual concluded and my partner and I commenced the cleanup, Hilda remarked: “This is the best Seder I have ever been to in my entire life. And you want to know why? The men are in the kitchen doing the dishes and the women are still sitting at the table. It only took 100 years, but I lived long enough to see it.”

http://www.nytimes.com/topic/subject/passover

今回取り上げる単語は、"Passover"です。

LDOCEで調べるてみると、"a Jewish religious holiday when people remember the escape of the Jews from Egypt"とありました。

『ジーニアス英和辞典』(大修館)第4版では、「過ぎ越しの祭り(出エジプトを記念するユダヤ人の祝い)」

この祭は、エジプトで奴隷だったユダヤ人がモーゼに導かれ、エジプトを脱出し自由の身になったことを祝う祭だとそうです。(Wikipedia)

因みに、見出しの"Seder"には、「(ユダヤ人のエジプト脱出を記念する)過越の祭り(Passover)の祝宴」という意味があることも分かりました。<『ジーニアス英和辞典』(大修館)第4版>
(Akim)