From Rabbi Jacob
Choose Your Haggadah Carefully
Most of us spend lavishly when we make our Seder. The food is plentiful,
the wine flows freely, the table is set beautifully. Yet, when we open
the Haggadah, that tells the Passover story, more than likely we have
before us a worn, tattered, wine-stained book that cost a quarter when
it was purchased in the 1950’s and has pages missing. (Here is a
hint - Maxwell House makes a heavenly coffee, and Manischewitz makes an
ok gefilte fish (real gefilte fish is never bought), but neither of them
are expert Haggadah makers. it would be wise to make a one time investment
in a suitable Haggadah that offers explanations, beautiful art, and a
good translation (without the “thy comings and thou goings.) Each
of the major Jewish movements has created wonderful Haggadahs.
Prepare the Seder
We spend so much time preparing the menu and the guest list. We are concerned
with timing, having the correct food groups, sitting the right people
next to each other, etc. How much time do we spend to make sure that the
ritual of the Seder is meaningful to those participating? If your Seder
consists of Zeyda sitting at the head of the table saying something like
“BzzzzzzBzzzzBzzz, mumble, mumble mumble, while Uncle Morris keeps
interrupting to ask ‘can we eat already?”And Scott chases
Melanie under the table then you are all missing the point. If you are
not going to say the entire Haggadah, take the time before-hand to decide
what is important and what can be skipped.
Ask any guests you may invite to come prepared with an explanation or a song that they remember from their Seders.
It will make your guests feel at home, and it will enhance your Seder as well.
Invite Guests
In the beginning of the Seder, we proclaim, “Let all who are hungry
come, and eat, all who are needy come and celebrate Passover with us”.
Can you imagine the pain in the heart of a senior citizen who contemplates
the holy day without a spouse with whom so many Passovers were shared?
No Jew should be alone on Passover. We are commanded to invite all who
are hungry. That commandment includes gay or lesbian Jews who may feel
alienated from our community. It includes intermarried families who may
feel rejected. It includes university students who are far away and who
are sometimes frightened. It is a great mitzvah to invite those who would
otherwise be alone.
Explain the Rituals
The Haggadah means “ the telling” because it serves as a spiritual
tool to fulfill the four time repeated biblical commandments to tell the
exodus story to our children. It is important to relate the story of the
suffering of our people throughout the ages to the suffering of others
today. For many years we would add extra matzo to remind us of the suffering
of Jews in Communist Europe. Remembering them each year during Pesach
inspired us to work for their freedom: a dream that we have seen fulfilled
in our lifetime. Perhaps we can use the Seder as a starting point for
a discussion of the plight of the African Americans in our country or
the slavery of the Sudan.
Sing a Lot
Make the Seder a joyous occasion. Be sure that every child present who
is capable, gets to recite four questions with the accompanying nahas
of the parents. Each child should be rewarded for finding the afikomen,
not just the actual finder. In traditional circles during Pesach, not
during Chanakuh, is when major gifts are given.
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