Image: A fresh spring salad. Photo by Jill111 via Pixabay.com.
Yes, Passover is still going on – the seders may be over, but we’re still scattering matzah crumbs at my house.
Most people know the simplest Passover greetings:
“Chag sameach!” (Khahg sah-MAY-akh) means Happy Holiday. The proper reply is simply “Chag sameach!” right back.
“Pesach sameach” (PAY-sahkh sah-MAY-akh) means Happy Passover. The proper reply is simply “Pesach sameach.”
However, in the middle days of Passover are different. They are called the Chol HaMoed, which translates to “Ordinary (days) of the festival.” That means that regular activities like work are permitted (which they aren’t on the chagim, the holy days at the beginning and at the end).
There’s a special greeting for the chol hamoed, the middle days:
“Moadim l’simchah!” (moh-ah-DEEM l-seem-KHAH) – “Festival of Happiness!”
The proper reply to this is, “Chagim U’zmanim L’sasson” – (Khahg-EEM oo-z’mahn-EEM l’sah-SOHN” “Holiday and Times of Joy!”
Thanks to Rabbi Rebecca Einstein Schorr, who reminded me of these special greetings in a facebook conversation.
I love this…so much better than…”Wow, it’s still Passover?”
Ha! I’m beginning to feel that way, actually. Looking forward to the return of chametz!