My grandfather, Tobias Snape, was Jewish. I, I’m afraid, know nothing of what it means to be jewish but I’m sure it meant a lot to him. He was an outcast in the area, even though there was a small community where we lived. My grandmother was also an outcast and perhaps that is why they bonded together. He just didn’t realise how she was different to him. I understand, in History of Magic we even did the relationship between Magic and Religion. I would always choose Judaism, if I could, so that I could understand him because he truly was the hardest man to understand.

I want to tell you about Passover. It is a holiday, a celebration. The understanding of the departure from one place to another. The opening of the door, allowing the safe passage of Elijah the prophet. This was the one Jewish ceremony I remember; it seems strange that it is very reminiscent of my life in future. Sometimes we would go to a synagogue with other people that all looked like my grandfather, perhaps they were related. But as there were few children, when it was asked by the priest “who will open the door?” my grandfather was proud to say my name… “Sarah will open the door”.

This is when I would look at my uncle, he would always give me a sharp nudge and a look to say “just get on with it and we can go home”. Regardless of how he felt about it, it is still exciting to open the door. I always looked at it as though I was opening the doors between each of our worlds. Magical, Muggle, Jewish, Elvish. It was as though each one fell into place and for a brief moment combined. For me Passover was wonderful. It was acceptance of everything I was, acceptance of my family. I liked the singing and food of course, but that was just something else.