A Seder of Safe Return

By Debbie Astor, moderator of "TheBrave" listserve

Welcome loved ones home from military deployment with love and a new Jewish tradition - the "Seder of Safe Return."

Those Jewish soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen who were able to attend a Passover seder away from home missed the warmth and love of family. Many were alone. Thousands were in harm's way. And Jewish families had to cope with empty chairs at the Seder table.

Renowned author and scholar Rabbi Harold Kushner has just written the "Seder of Safe Return," a uniquely Jewish and deeply meaningful ceremony for families to use in welcoming home returning service-members.

A discussion among participants on "TheBrave," a listserv for families of active duty Jewish military, hosted by USCJ, saw dozens of exchanges as Passover approached about the collision of pride in their loved ones' mission, fear for their safety, and the pervasive Seder themes of freedom and redemption. These realities sparked the idea for the new ceremony. Rabbi Barry Starr of Temple Israel, Sharon, MA, formulated the concept and Rabbi Maurice Kaprow, CDR USN, Deputy Fleet Chaplain, US Sixth Fleet created a framework for this new ritual.

It is hoped that you, or anyone you know who will be welcoming home a loved one, will print out and use the "Seder of Safe Return" at that immensely important moment. It has been created and written as a gift, with pride in our Jewish servicemembers' commitment to the highest ideals of our nation and our people, and in honor of the bravery of their families.

To download The Seder of Safe Return, visit:

http://uscj.org/images/sedersafe.pdf

Feel free to print it, reproduce it, or alter it to fit your particular needs. Please share this information widely and quickly.

Debbie Astor
Moderator, TheBrave