Passover 2014 reflections

This is my own personal thoughts on this years Passover - 

During the intermediate days, it has been great to have festive evening meal, which have included  incredibly excellent D'var Torah reflections each day (Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday and looking forward to tonight's talk on the parting of the Red Sea, by my eldest). The special Shabbat this Friday was also an enjoyable affair.

Passover Seder 
As for our two Passover Seders; it was great as ever to have family and friends, Jewish and not Jewish, gathered to celebrate another Passover .It was good to see Mrs K in a Sari as the meals are an important occasion we 'dress up' in our best; for me that was black lounge suite & broad brimmed hat, I DON'T, however, wear a shritmel. Each seder each started at about 7 and ended  well after 1 am (formally at least, I believe that Hannah, Sam and a few others continued discussing & drinking till at least 5 am).  Food  was bountiful, presented in a  traditional style on the first night and Tapas the second night, see HERE for the food and wine menu.

Theological truth/insight 
I think for me the bit that I really picked up on this year was the message of Psalm 136, which we sing as part of the Seder, which has been particularly pertinent for me personally, for other people I know and for our family generally. I believe it is a self explanatory song, so won't bother with a homily or anything further :

1. Give thanks to the Lord because He is good, for His kindness is eternal.		א. הוֹדוּ לַיהֹוָה כִּי טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
2. Give thanks to the God of the angels, for His kindness is eternal.		ב. הוֹדוּ לֵאלֹהֵי הָאֱלֹהִים כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
3. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His kindness is eternal.		ג. הוֹדוּ לַאֲדֹנֵי הָאֲדֹנִים כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
4. To Him Who performs great wonders alone, for His kindness is eternal.		ד. לְעֹשֵׂה נִפְלָאוֹת גְּדֹלוֹת לְבַדּוֹ כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
5. To Him Who made the heavens with understanding, for His kindness is eternal.		ה. לְעֹשֵׂה הַשָּׁמַיִם בִּתְבוּנָה כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
6. To Him Who spread out the earth over the water, for His kindness is eternal.		ו. לְרֹקַע הָאָרֶץ עַל הַמָּיִם כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
7. To Him Who made great luminaries, for His kindness is eternal.		ז. לְעֹשֵׂה אוֹרִים גְּדֹלִים כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
8. The sun to rule by day, for His kindness is eternal.		ח. אֶת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ לְמֶמְשֶׁלֶת בַּיּוֹם כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
9. The moon and stars to rule at night, for His kindness is eternal.		ט. אֶת הַיָּרֵחַ וְכוֹכָבִים לְמֶמְשְׁלוֹת בַּלָּיְלָה כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
10. To Him Who smote the Egyptians with their firstborn, for His kindness is eternal.		י. לְמַכֵּה מִצְרַיִם בִּבְכוֹרֵיהֶם כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
11. And He took Israel from their midst, for His kindness is eternal.		יא. וַיּוֹצֵא יִשְׂרָאֵל מִתּוֹכָם כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
12. With a strong hand and with an outstretched arm, for His kindness is eternal.		יב. בְּיָד חֲזָקָה וּבִזְרוֹעַ נְטוּיָה כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
13. To Him Who cut the Sea of Reeds asunder, for His kindness is eternal.		יג. לְגֹזֵר יַם סוּף לִגְזָרִים כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
14. And caused Israel to cross in its midst, for His kindness is eternal.		יד. וְהֶעֱבִיר יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּתוֹכוֹ כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
15. And He threw Pharaoh and his host into the Sea of Reeds, for His kindness is eternal.		טו. וְנִעֵר פַּרְעֹה וְחֵילוֹ בְיַם סוּף כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
16. To Him Who led His people in the desert, for His kindness is eternal.		טז. לְמוֹלִיךְ עַמּוֹ בַּמִּדְבָּר כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
17. To Him Who smote great kings, for His kindness is eternal.		יז. לְמַכֵּה מְלָכִים גְּדֹלִים כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
18. And slew mighty kings, for His kindness is eternal.		יח. וַיַּהֲרֹג מְלָכִים אַדִּירִים כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
19. Sihon the king of the Amorites, for His kindness is eternal.		יט. לְסִיחוֹן מֶלֶךְ הָאֱמֹרִי כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
20. And Og the king of Bashan, for His kindness is eternal.		כ. וּלְעוֹג מֶלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
21. And He gave their land as an inheritance, for His kindness is eternal.		כא. וְנָתַן אַרְצָם לְנַחֲלָה כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
22. An inheritance to Israel His servant, for His kindness is eternal.		כב. נַחֲלָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַבְדּוֹ כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
23. Who remembered us in our humble state, for His kindness is eternal.		כג. שֶׁבְּשִׁפְלֵנוּ זָכַר לָנוּ כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
24. And He rescued us from our adversaries, for His kindness is eternal.		כד. וַיִּפְרְקֵנוּ מִצָּרֵינוּ כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
25. Who gives bread to all flesh, for His kindness is eternal.		כה. נֹתֵן לֶחֶם לְכָל בָּשָׂר כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
26. Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His kindness is eternal.		כו. הוֹדוּ לְאֵל הַשָּׁמָיִם כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ: