Passover, Easter, Spring

Matthew Septimus A plus photographer and I did a holiday series for ON BEING.

We know by now how unexpected life is, how holidays take infinite forms.

Baal Shem Tov, holy man
with a sense of humor (wouldn’t you
like to hear his jokes) said a special meal
should happen now. Another rabbi
Shalom Dov Ber added four cups
of wine. To observe, many of us met for dinner
in a restaurant. And although that might not be
what the Baal Shem Tov had in mind,
we celebrated freedom, liberation,

and each other in a wonderful Somali restaurant,
then went to Paris Blues, an old Harlem
jazz club. Woman at the door,
beautiful Dominican Esther sat with us a while.
Once married to an Israeli who died in Jerusalem,
she’s married to an African. Esther hugged us all.
Chag Pesach Sameyach she said.
And then, Peace for us all next year.