Passover: How to Make This Night Really Different
By Suzan Berns
Of all the Jewish holidays, Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) is the one most widely celebrated by Jews the world over. The holiday has a compelling theme—the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt—that resonates in the hearts of all freedom-loving people. The primary observance, the seder, takes place at home with family and friends, in a more casual environment than some holidays, as explained in the answer to one of the “four questions” that asks why we recline on this night. And while there is a certain order to the seder (which is in fact the Hebrew word for order), there is also much opportunity to design your service to fit the character of your gathering. Here are a few suggestions to get your imagination going.
Think About the Rituals Beforehand
While we take the time to plan menus and shop, we don’t always find the time to review the hagaddah and consider how the 15 traditional parts of the seder can be modified to suit our own gatherings. Think about what has transpired in the year past, both in the world and with your guests, and how these things might make the seder more meaningful. Perhaps you can make assignments so that each guest has a role or can at least participate.
Give Up Chametz
Observant Jews give up all leavened products (chametz) during the eight days of Passover. Even if you aren’t a strict follower of this tradition, you might consider giving up one item, such as pasta, for the entire holiday. You could mark this change with a "goodbye pasta feed" for your family on the night before Passover, getting rid of all the spaghetti, macaroni, ziti, etc. in your cupboards and agreeing that this staple will be off the table for the holiday.
Have Fun with Hagaddahs
Hagaddahs are the Seder script and include the dialogue and directions for the evening. There are dozens of hagaddahs available, many representative of specific ideologies. Why not add a new hagaddah to your supply each year, and then choose a passage that you like from each to be read at the seder? For example, you might select a paragraph
from a feminist hagaddah to be included in the maggid, the telling of the Passover story.
Ask each guest to sign his or her hagaddah, much like a guest register at a special event. In the years to come, the signatures will bring to mind memories of past seders and all those who observed them with you.
Make the Karpas an Appetizer Course
On many seder plates, parsley is used for karpas, the green vegetable, which symbolizes spring and the earth’s bounty. Instead of parsley, pass around celery sticks, green peppers, guacamole and other green vegetables to help assuage hunger pangs—often quite pronounced during the seder—and provide an appropriate karpas for the celebration.
Learn from Your Charoses
Jews come from many lands and often use ingredients native to their country of origin. Ask two or three guests to prepare charoses (which represents the brick mortar made by the slaves in Egypt) from different cultures. Ask them also to learn a fact or two about the Jewish community of the country whose cuisine they have chosen to share with your other guests.
Relate the Holidays to Contemporary Issues
Discussion and conversation are important aspects of the seder. Ask several of your guests to bring along a poem or a news item to share that relates to freedom of some type. Or, after the recitation of the biblical plagues, ask your guests to name their personal plagues and how they are dealing with them.
Involve the Kids
If there are very small children coming to your seder, provide a place for them to play near the table (if possible). That way, parents won’t need to leave the seder to keep an eye on their sons and/or daughters. For older children, find ways for them to participate directly in the seder. For example, call on them to read passages from the hagaddah or take part in discussions.
Sing, Play, and Have Fun
Passover is rich in tradition and learning opportunities. Try not to rush the rituals, spread out the feast so you don’t get stuffed, and don’t miss singing "Dayenu" along with some of the silly new songs (for example, "The Ballad of the Four Sons" sung to the tune of "My Darling Clementine"). Because the first seder is Saturday night this year, you may be able to have a more leisurely celebration without being mindful of bedtime for children and adults alike.
Chag Someach – Have a happy and meaningful Passover!
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