Preparing for Passover with Poetry and Dance

Jewish&

Jewish& is a blog by Be’chol Lashon, which gives voice to the racial, ethnic and cultural diversity of Jewish identity and experience. The original multicultural people, Jews have lived around the world for millennia. Today, with globalism and inclusion so key in making choices about engaging in Jewish life,Jewish& provides a forum for personal reflection, discussion, and debate.

As we prepare for our Passover seder this coming year, Stacey Menchel Kussell and Aaron Samuels bring us a collaborative and film project combining dance, music and poetry to unpack the daily rituals that we practice in our lives.

The video, Ritual, follows four dancers as they rehearse in the studio. Their preparation is prayer-like, full of repetition, meditation, ecstasy, and reflection, reinforcing the sacredness of daily practice. Set to poetry by Black and Jewish spoken-word artist Aaron Samuels, Ritual’s text reflects on his family memories of Passover, an ancient Jewish tradition that celebrates freedom from oppression. Ritual examines the tenacity and resilience that motivates us to keep our traditions and honor our histories, no matter our heritage or creed.