Passover 09

It's the middle of March and I just came from a Ladies Seder sponsored by Brandeis and conducted by Miriam Aaron, who is so capable.

I happened to be sitting next to Ronnie Weber who is very interesting.

On my other side was Donna who is Beverly Sills sister-in-law.

When Jeff and Donna visit I set up my table with a white or other nice tablecloth, good dishes, wine, and juice.

. Either one person can lead the seder, reciting each reading and making the blessings, or everyone can take turns.

The directions concerning which fruit to locate and the mix of the wines should be read aloud.

As each piece of fruit and each cup of wine is being considered and blessed, that object is held by the reader. After each blessing, the participants taste the fruit or sip the wine

A large platter is placed in front of the one conducting the Seder. This can be an ordinary platter .

Upon the plates are the following objects:

THREE MATZOS, placed in the three separate sections of a Matzoh Cover, designed by Donna... The following are placed on the table for the participants

ROASTED SHANKBONE . I use a chicken bone.

One or more dishes of SALT WATER, depending upon the number of participants.

A ROASTED EGG

BITTER HERBS, cut into small pieces or ground horseradish.


A WINE GOBLET in front of each place. A large goblet, filled with wine, at the center of the table. This is the CUP OF ELIJAH. Somehow Elijah disappoints me every year...my feelings are started to feel rejection.

CHAROSES, a mixture of nuts, apple and cinnamon, finely chopped and mixed with a little wine. I like this so much I could make a meal on just that.

If desired, for convenience, extra dishes of BITTER HERBS and CHAROSES can be placed on the table.

PARSLEY, LETTUCE, OR WATERCRESS cut into small pieces
A pillow or cushion is placed on the left arm of the chair

Passover reminds us of the Jewish people's journey from slavery to freedom, from despair to hope, from lack of insight into praise for the Divine - the same path as our own personal psychological and spiritual growth.

After the Seder is over, we all join in the singing of crazy songs.

This year I have updated and written my own plagues that exist in the here and now.

I particularly love this Holiday because it has deep meaning for Jeff who recalls his Grandparents special seders over the many years...and he tries very hard to emulate them.

Here are my plagues:
Autism

Stolen identity

Fraud

Ponzi schemes

Recession

Pedophiles

Dementia

Global Warming

Drugs
Terrorism