“Both of my parents were Jewish. But as a child we never celebrated Passover at home. My father was an officer in the Red Army and fought bravely against the Nazis. After the war, he continued serving, and was scared the neighbors would see us celebrating Jewish holidays.
But my mother refused to give it all up. She had the fondest memories of Passover from her own childhood and was determined to pass those on to me. So every year she would bring me to her friends house to join their Passover seder. My father wasn’t there, but l’ll never forget how happy my mother was, to have the chance to show me what Passover was about.
After my mother passed on, I stopped celebrating the holiday. Until decades later, in 1998, when I joined the synagogue seder for the first time since my parents had passed. I became the lead volunteer at the synagogue every Passover and made sure to be there every year to give out my favorite jewish food- matzah!
I never had children of my own, but volunteering before pesach has helped me feel like I’m contributing towards our nation. Making sure the next generation can celebrate Passover with delicious matzahs. I’m now home bound, and am so touched to see the young volunteers, the younger generation, who come all the way to my apartment to make sure I have matzah for the holiday. It’s amazing how this matzah bridges our past to our future.” – Irina, 81
Source: Chaim Danzinger
