Day
Sixteen
We
are currently about halfway through Pesach or Passover, the Jewish
commemoration of the escape from Egypt and slavery.
The ancient, traditional
sacrifice was a perfect lamb.
Today
is Easter Sunday, which Christians celebrate as the escape from after-life condemnation
and punishment. The sacrifice in this
case: The Lamb of God aka Jesus.
In
neither case will the celebrations be what we are used to.
No
family gathering, unless the family were
already in your bubble.
No Easter Egg
hunts by excited children and certainly no congregating in shul or church.
Our
traditions and celebrations are indications of who we are. We delight in the shared experiences of
cultural customs and we come together to share in that joy because we need them.
This
year, sadly, we’ll be denied those
gatherings - but that is our sacrifice for the greater good.
April
has many more day of commemoration and celebration:
April 19th-25th is Medical Laboratory Professionals Week.
All over the world, laboratories are humming
as the professionals look for a Corona virus vaccine and trial drugs which will
cure the already sick.
19th-25th
is also National Volunteers Week, this
year particularly apt as hundreds of
thousands of volunteers have stepped forward to support and help during the
C-19 crisis.
Bless your hearts.
April 24th-30th will be
World Immunisation Week. According to their web site, the theme this year is Vaccines Work for All, the campaign focussing on, “the people who
develop, deliver and receive them are heroes by working to protect the health
of everyone, everywhere.” Amen to that.
Other
dates include: St George’s Day, celebrated in the UK on 23rd, as is
Shakespeare Day.
ANZAC
Day 25th April. This is one of
the most important days in the New Zealand and Australian calendar - it unites people.
In every town, city and community across both our countries,
the Dawn Service (or sometimes later) brings out proud Kiwis and Aussies of all ages.
Typically
there’s a parade of veterans and other personnel who have served and are still
serving in war zones.
Emergency Services
take part and are accompanied by Cadets,
Scouts, Guides, Brownies, Pippins and
other school children.
We
do it to honour the sacrifices they made and are still making, to keep the world safe.
This
year, we too will be sacrificing - and it will be hard - our right to gather and honour. This time in order to keep one another safe.
At
the end of the last Seder of Passover, there’s a traditional saying: 'Next year in Jerusalem'.
It speaks of hope and
confidence in the future and in this, wherever we are, we can participate.
