Today is the first day of Passover. This Sunday is Easter Sunday. Two very special, very meaningful religious holidays for many of us. These are holidays to remember, occasions to take time to reflect, to celebrate the day, to enjoy precious moments with family and close friends.

Be it a Passover seder, an Easter dinner, or a service in your own house of worship, a holiday is always made even more memorable by sharing the day with those we love.

In our family, we recently had the blessing of watching my young niece become a Bat Mitzvah at Temple Beth-El. The family had the joy of coming forward to recite prayers for Elizabeth during the service, while extended family members and good friends joined us in the congregation. Standing on the bimah, looking out at that warm circle of wonderful people, I was reminded of how fortunate we are to enjoy such close relationships. I experienced that same loving feeling on the days when my own two daughters also stood before Rabbi Jerome Davidson as they too became Bat Mitzvahs.

The love of family and friends is a true gift, one that often becomes most apparent during days of joy, days of sorrow, and days of holiday celebration. It is a gift to treasure.

To our readers who celebrate Passover and Easter, we wish you joyous holidays. To all of our readers, we wish you warm, happy family times to cherish.

Wendy K. Kreitzman