Still Pesach?
Torah says seven Diaspora Jews do eightIs it still Pesach?
The Torah commands us (Exodus 12:15) to eat matzah for seven days of the Passover Festival. That is generally the practice in Israel and for Reform Jews. More traditional Jews in the Diaspora add an eighth day to continue the tradition dating back to Temple times when the beginning of the holiday was based on physical observation of the new moon rather than reference to a set calendar as we do today.This year, with the eighth day falling on Shabbat, there are issues surrounding Torah reading for those who observe only seven days. In communities where the holiday lasts eight days, there is a special reading for the second Shabbat of Passover. In the Reform Movement in North America, according to the URJ Torah Portion Schedule, we will read the first part of the portion Sh'mini this week and the remainder of that portion next week.Do you know what practice your congregation will follow this Shabbat? What is your personal practice?