Passover 2025

It’s Passover!

White Pesach / Passover Seder plate with purple flowers on it. Contains family - friendly versions of ritual seder items including a candy bone, chocolate eggs, lettuce, charoset, salt water, and bitter herbs.

This has been one intense time, for sure. I’ve been sitting back and trying to take care of myself rather than blog but I miss writing so here’s a blog post about Passover, the Jewish spring holiday of escaping slavery and eating unleavened bread because we didn’t have the time to let the dough rise before we left.  You’ll notice that I say we, as if I were back there at the time of the holiday. I was taught to see myself a part of the exodus from Egypt, reminding me that I am part of the story, then and now.

Links for more information about Passover

Links to learn more about Passover
The basics Feminist Seder traditions
Feminist Seder traditions: (well worth a read)

How to host a queer seder and why  the orange is really on the Seder plate

The Food

Abi’s finger and nail with nail sticker of an arm with boils on it as part of a set of nail decals for Passover. Contact a Jewish therapist in San Diego, CA for support. Learn more about support for Jewish therapists in San Diego, CA.

It’s Passover now. 8 days of unleavened bread. This year I decided to eat Kiniyot and eat in a more of a Sephardic style than I usually do. I’m an Ashkenazi Jew. My family is from Eastern Europe, somewhere near Poland and Russia. I come from outside of Boston, MA originally and my parents from New York, NY. I live in San Diego now. I’m a vegetarian and I found that I was making myself ill (unintentionally) over the years eschewing beans, rice, olive oil, and legumes. I was pretty much eating cheese and matzah only and wow, my body was NOT a fan. 

I know that my body does not love more than one piece of matzah for me a day but I find it hard to resist.

Today, I indulged with matzah nachos, consisting of matzah, roasted vegetables, tofu with green salsa, tomato, and cheddar cheese and separately, coffee and my beloved nutella. I’m sharing what I’m eating because for me, Passover is about the food. It’s also about community and family, chosen and blood. It’s about persistence, redemption, escape, and horror. It’s not like the most fun holiday but it does teach me to be more mindful of what I am eating and drinking and for that I am grateful. The holiday has made me prepare better for each meal and stay away from my favorite coffee shop treats.

Some of my blood family was in town, which was fun and they and we hosted a small Seder (word definition: order; activity: festive meal). We also went to a family Seder at our synagogue which was enjoyable. My dad was singing along with my daughter. My wife threw in a melody or three and all the kids ran around the hall including ours. It was fun to see all the kids at the synagogue acting like kids and everyone relaxing around their exuberance.

Abi’s hand with Jewish Passover nail decals on it representing the plagues and different Jewish symbols on it. Request a Jewish and /or Jewish - affirming therapist today at Waves.

I feel grateful for the security out front. I like knowing that our bags are checked for weapons and so is everyone else’s. I feel slightly safer knowing that we were Jews together and that we survived the Seder without (current) violence.

Feeling different as a Jew in San Diego, California

Passover is one of those times when I feel REALLY different from those around me, at least here in San Diego, CA. In Boston, MA and NYC, NY, I knew a lot of people who celebrated Passover but here, I’m still surprised when someone shouts, “A Ziessen Pesach!” (Yiddish for “Have an easy Passover!”) or send me a message on social media or a text.

I’m grateful for the Jewish communities I’m in including my synagogue here in town and Congregation Sha’ar Zahav in San Francisco. I’m trying to make friends with local and not-so-local online friends in Jewish communities, especially ones that are in groups of Jewish therapists. No community is perfect. I don’t agree with everyone. And, at the same time, it feels really nice to connect with other Jewish psychologists and mental health therapists. 

And I’m loving the “Passover adaptation” new-ish songs from Six13. My kid loves APT so hearing their version was really cute and got us all in the mood to commemorate and dance around the house. Six13 - PSVR. (a Passover adaptation of "APT." by Bruno Mars and Rosé)

Practicing Gratitude

I’m also practicing my gratitude. I am grateful for Passover cakes. This year, I am especially grateful for the extra moist marble cake that has helped me get through the days and my wonderful wife who is baking them for us. 

I’m grateful for the ways that I help to make this holiday a tradition in my family. We try to do something different each year. This year, my daughter and I are wearing Passover nail decals. They are mostly of the plagues but some have pieces of matzah on them and others have a glass of wine or a Jewish star with Pesach written on them. They are super duper depressing and gory but well, they make me think about Passover all the time, even while working, which is new for me. It reminds me that I’m not alone in following the rituals around this holiday. It reminds me not to give up, to be persistent, and that community is out there. My current favorite sticker is a mini Seder plate, but a close second is the arm with boils.

While the world continues to fall apart, having a bit of community and a bit of tradition, helps ground me in community.

If you read this far, thank you! I’d love to hear what grounds you today or any day. And, if you are looking for a therapist, please know that we are happy to support you and your needs. Both Dr. Camilla Williams (she/her/hers) and I, Abi Weissman (they/she), have availability. Sign on up for an appointment and get started on feeling better today.

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