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Home , Haggadah, Passover Seder

Guide to for Interfaith Families What is Passover/Pesach? ...... 1 The Seder: The Ritual Passover Meal ...... 1 : The Passover Guide and Storybook ...... 4 The 15 Steps of the Seder ...... 5 ’s Cup and ’s Cup ...... 7 Passover Foods: Foods That Tell the Seder Story ...... 7 Some Traditional Passover Foods ...... 9 Your Turn to Host the Seder? ...... 10 Pre-Passover Preparation ...... 11 Guide to Passover Inviting Guests ...... 12 Passover Cooking ...... 13 for Interfaith Families Passover Themes Meaningful to Interfaith Families ...... 14 Engaging Children and Adults ...... 14 Community Seders at : What to Expect ...... 15 Additional Resources ...... 16 Online Resources ...... 16 How-To Guides ...... 16 Cookbooks ...... 16 for Reading and Study ...... 16 User-Friendly Haggadahs ...... 17 What is Passover/Pesach? Passover is a week-long festival, usually For many , Passover is the most falling somewhere in March or April. (The important of all . In fact, Jewish calendar is based mainly on the more Jewish Americans observe Passover lunar calendar, and so Jewish holidays fall than any other Jewish holiday – even more on different dates on the secular American than light candles. In from year to year.) Part of the the name of the holiday is Pesach, with a Jewish community celebrates Passover for guttural sound forming the final consonant seven days, and the other part for eight. of the word – the same sound that ends the Why? Because it’s very Jewish to differ over name of the famous composer, Bach. details! (We’ll answer this question more seriously below.) Passover’s popularity is partly because it’s the holiday in which we retell the foundational story of , from The Seder: Egypt. If you’re familiar with the Exodus The Ritual Passover Meal story, the holiday is named for the part of The most well-known thing that Jewish the story in which God is getting ready to people do during Passover is to gather smite the with the tenth and final together for a ceremonial festive meal called plague. God instructs the Hebrew slaves to a seder. Seder is the Hebrew word meaning mark their homes and warns them that the “order,” as in “order of events.” A Passover Angel of Death will be sweeping across all seder is the ritual meal that people celebrate of Egypt, killing the first born sons of all that on the first and in some cases, also the live, but that the Angel will pass over and second, nights of Passover. (Why do some spare the first born sons of every home that celebrate the seder just on the first night and bears the designated mark. Passover’s popularity is partly some on the first two nights? We’ll get to that later, we promise!) Passover is also a big deal because many because it’s the holiday Jewish families come together to share a in which we retell the The main thing to understand about a seder special celebratory meal (called the seder – is that it combines a delicious meal, the more on that in a bit). Imagine a holiday with foundational story of Jewish telling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt, the importance of Thanksgiving, but without history, the Exodus from Egypt and a lot of symbolic foods and rituals tied the breaded stuffing (more on the food rules to the Exodus story. Whether you’re hosting of Passover later). a seder at your home or you are a guest at someone else’s, a typical seder is set

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Click logo to return to table of contents Guide to Passover for Interfaith Families The seder and the Haggadah were developed by a group of ancient who lived in the Land of under Greco- Roman cultural influence

comfortable – reclining on pillows and up like a dinner party with a script. There’s cultural borrowing in crafting the Haggadah, cushions and preparing to eat and drink, talk a book, called a Haggadah in Hebrew, using the Greco-Roman concept of a and argue deep into the night. which contains the ritual order of the meal symposium as a blueprint and filling in that – traditionally comprised of 15 steps, or structure with Jewish content. A symposium What the ancient rabbis did in crafting the ritual units. Usually, every guest gets a copy, was a meal with guests during which an seder was to create a very Jewish version of though sometimes people have to share if important subject would be discussed and the symposium. The topic for the evening’s there aren’t enough copies for all the guests. explored, and a specific number of cups discussion: the Exodus from Egypt and the The Haggadah functions as the “script” for of wine would be served. The hosts would meaning of liberation for our times. The the meal, and often everyone attending issue invitations, which would state the topic number of cups of wine to be served: four. is invited to take turns doing the readings for the evening’s discussion and the number The meal: sumptuous, with symbolic foods contained throughout the book. of cups of wine that would be served. (The representing different parts of the Exodus more potent the wine that a particular story. The rabbis who originated the seder The seder and the Haggadah were host served, the more he or she would be envisioned the food, drink, and discussion developed by a group of ancient rabbis admired in community gossip). continuing on as late as people would like who lived in the under Greco- At the beginning of the evening, guests – even until dawn. Passover is the ultimate Roman cultural influence. They did some would arrive and be invited to get dinner-party-Jewish-holiday.

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Click logo to return to table of contents Guide to Passover for Interfaith Families Did Jesus of Nazareth Jesus’ lifetime had the Haggadah and and because many Christian readings of participate in seders, with matzah ritual seder that we are familiar with today, the Gospels interpret the texts to mean and a Haggadah, similar to the because many of the rabbis who crafted that Jesus was crucified at the time of one Jews use today? it lived after Jesus’ lifetime, and after the the Passover holiday, it’s not surprising The short answer is “well, sort of but Temple was destroyed by the that some find it meaningful to not exactly.” Romans. incorporate some form of the seder into their own religious life. Easter and Passover As a 1st Century living in Judea, Jesus The rabbis who developed the Haggadah always take place during the same season, assuredly celebrated Passover, and some were trying to find a meaningful way for and sometimes they even overlap. As with New Testament scholars think that the Last Jews to celebrate Passover in the aftermath the December holiday season, there are Supper was probably a Passover ritual meal. of the destruction of the Temple and the many opportunities for Jewish and Christian However, during the time that Jesus lived, exile of most of the Jews by the Romans, families and congregations to share the ancient was still several decades after the life and times traditions, stories and fun activities when standing, and Jews primarily celebrated the of Jesus. Jews could no longer go on a Passover and Easter arrive in the . holiday in a different manner than the seder pilgrimage to Jerusalem and bring lambs as we know it. and other offerings to the Temple, so the One note on the subject of churches that hold their own seders: Interfaith families may want to be aware that some Jews feel It’s very unlikely that Jews during Jesus’ lifetime had the Haggadah conflicted or negative toward church seders, whereas other Jews feel good about them and ritual seder that we are familiar with today, because many of and are willing to be guests at them or the rabbis who crafted it lived after Jesus’ lifetime even help lead them. If you or your family get invited to a church seder, our advice is to check in with one another about your feelings, feel free to ask the organizers of the Passover, in the Holy Land during Temple ancient rabbis reconstructed the ceremonial event anything you want to know in advance times, was above all a pilgrimage festival. aspects of the holiday so that they could and decide what you want to do based on Jews would bring offerings from wherever function for Jews living in exile. your own comfort level. they lived to the Temple in Jerusalem, and they would celebrate over meals including Many Christians have a deep interest in There are also some interfaith seders or lamb (important to the Exodus story) and Passover, and some churches hold Seders secular seders tying the Exodus story to the matzah (unleavened bread – we’ll explore of their own. Because Passover, the Exodus struggles other communities have had for the meaning of this ritual Passover food story, and the themes of liberation and their own liberation and dignity. More on later). It’s very unlikely that Jews during redemption were very important to Jesus, that later.

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Click logo to return to table of contents Guide to Passover for Interfaith Families Haggadah: The Passover Guide and Storybook First Nuremberg Haggadah, circa 1449 – Handwritten on parchment using ink and The Haggadah is the guide book everyone watercolor, with square and semi-cursive uses at a seder. Haggadah is Hebrew for Ashkenazic script. “the telling,” which makes sense because the Haggadah tells the Exodus story. The plural of the Hebrew word, Haggadah, is Haggadot, with a long “o” in the last syllable.

Traditional Haggadot will have: • pre-Passover instructions for preparing one’s home for the holiday • a listing of the order of the ritualized sections of the seder • instructions for each of the prayers, blessings, and ritual actions that are to More liberal or alternative Haggadot will • they may abbreviate the traditional be done in each of the 15 sections of generally have all of the above, although: Haggadah texts in order to make the the seder • they may replace certain traditional length of the seder more do-able for • a retelling of the story of the Exodus from prayers with more contemporary or parents with young children Egypt, with additional commentaries on liberal Jewish content expressing the • they may expand on the traditional different parts of the story same core themes Haggadah texts by adding contemporary • well-loved Hebrew prayers and songs • they may include different biblical questions for discussion, or by adding associated with the holiday or ancient rabbinic versions of the readings that describe the struggles for Exodus story justice that other people have gone • they may modify some of the ancient through or are currently going through rabbis’ rituals to reflect changing Haggadah is Hebrew for social values Most of the traditional Haggadah is written in • they may add new rituals or ritual items Hebrew or , the ancient languages “the telling,” which makes to express liberal Jewish values on of Jewish life and prayer in the Middle East, sense because the Haggadah contemporary issues connected to the usually with an English translation on the themes of oppression, liberation and facing page. Some modern or alternative tells the Exodus story . justice (we’ll see a couple examples of Haggadot have a retelling of the story this later) without much Hebrew or Aramaic, and

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Click logo to return to table of contents Guide to Passover for Interfaith Families transliteration of the So you got invited to your Hebrew into English letters boyfriend/girlfriend’s house for (affectionately known Passover… Does that mean you as “Heblish”), so that should expect a ring? everyone can join in with In some families, bringing a boyfriend or the Hebrew singing and girlfriend home for Passover indicates chanting at the meal. a strong level of commitment. In other families, holiday tables are open to everyone, If you are a first-time guest and the more the merrier; your partner at the seder, your hosts may not intend to signal anything by will provide a Haggadah bringing you home. for you to use, and you can follow the lead of your You may not know until you get there – unless you ask. Because Passover is a family holiday with the same kind of family status If you are a first-time guest at the seder, your hosts will provide as Thanksgiving or Christmas in Christian families, being a guest at their seder is a a Haggadah for you to use, and you can follow the lead of your good opportunity for you to learn a lot hosts about how to participate about your partner’s family and whether or not he or she brought you along to show that the relationship is serious. may include readings and songs from other traditions and parts of history that fit with hosts about how to participate. If you are Passover themes. planning a seder at your house for the first The 15 Steps of the Seder time, we have a list of suggested Haggadot The path from to liberation was Haggadot will often have song lyrics and that you can purchase or download (see crafted by the ancient rabbis in fifteen musical notation to help new singers learn below). If you live near a Judaica shop, ritualized steps, each one represented by a fun Passover song melodies. There are gift shop or Jewish bookstore, named section of the seder. They are: so many different varieties of Haggadot you can also go browse through the choices 1. Kadesh – a blessing over wine available nowadays, and some of them there. 2. Ur-chatz – ritual washing of hands come with an accompanying CD to help without the usual blessing the non-singers at the table, or for seders in 3.  – eating some leafy greens or which there are a lot of newcomers to the green vegetables experience. Some publishers have included

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Click logo to return to table of contents Guide to Passover for Interfaith Families 4. Yachatz – raising up and breaking the The leader takes the middle matzah, breaks it in half, and then has middle Matzah (more on this later) 5.  – the telling of the Exodus story someone hide one half . At the end of the meal, kids are invited to (the longest section of the Seder) search for the hidden matzah, which is known as the afikomen . 6. Rach-tzah – ritual washing of hands before the meal, with the blessing 7. Motzi – the blessing over the Matzah • Drinking four cups of wine (or grape and the meal juice) throughout the evening 8. Matzah – another blessing over the • During the Yachatz section, the leader Matzah, this time emphasizing the takes a ceremonial plate that has 3 special nature of eating Matzah as a pieces of matzah stacked on it, and lifts it Passover ritual act up. Then, s/he takes the middle matzah, 9.  – eating bitter herbs breaks it in half, and then has someone 10. Korech – eating a sandwich of hide one half somewhere in the house. Matzah and bitter herbs (and then At the end of the meal, kids are invited to adding a sweet, chutney-like Jewish search for the hidden matzah, which is dish called ) known as the afikomen. In some families, 11. Shulchan Orech – the festive meal the child who finds it gets a gift, though 12. Tzafun – eating the Afikomen often every child gets a gift when the (more on that later) afikomen has been found. 13. Barech – grace after meals • During the Maggid section, in which we as part of our liberation, we remove 14.  – singing of praise retell the Exodus story, there are several one drop of wine for each plague, 15. Nirtzah – conclusion well-loved parts, such as: symbolizing a diminishment of our joy. ◆ The “Four Questions,” often sung by ◆ Singing a song called “.” For a very accessible overview of each young children who have learned the It repeatedly proclaims that if God of these steps of the seder, including traditional melody for singing had only provided a fraction of a description of what happens and the these questions in Hebrew. (Video of the goodness that God showed to symbolic meaning of each element, this here.) our ancestors, “it would have been click here. ◆ The chanting of the 10 plagues that enough” (that phrase is the meaning struck ancient Egypt before Pharaoh of the Hebrew word, Dayenu. Want to Some of the most well-loved ritual elements finally let the Hebrew slaves go. In practice the song? Click here. of the seder take place within some of the sorrow that so many Egyptians suffered • Tasting different varieties ofcharoset 15 steps listed above. These include: (more on this food below)

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Click logo to return to table of contents Guide to Passover for Interfaith Families • Eating the bitter herb – maror – and In a typical seder, a cup of wine, “Elijah’s newly freed Hebrew women in song and seeing just how hot it is. If peoples’ faces cup,” is filled with wine or grape juice and set dance at the shores of the Red Sea. The turn red, it’s especially memorable. before an empty chair that remains empty describes her as a prophet, and • Setting a place at the table, including a throughout the seder. Toward the end of the the ancient rabbis taught that, after the cup of wine, for the spirit of the Hebrew seder, we are instructed to open the door Hebrew slaves had been freed and then biblical prophet, Elijah, and later during for Elijah, and we collectively imagine his wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, the Seder, opening the door so that his presence (and/or the ideals it represents) wherever they encamped, a magic well with presence (or, metaphorical presence if entering the room. Adults sometimes fresh water would appear, and that God you prefer) can come in. humorously challenge young children to made this happen on account of • Singing fun folk songs near the end of inspect Elijah’s the Seder – you can see YouTube videos cup at the end of of many of them here. the seder to see • Concluding the Seder with the words, if there’s any sign “Next year in Jerusalem.” that someone drank some of the Elijah’s Cup and Miriam’s Cup wine or juice. The biblical prophet, Elijah, is a major figure in the biblical books 1st and 2nd Kings. In In more recent Jewish tradition, Elijah is associated with years, many Jews the hope for the return of the and have added a the ushering in of an era of peace, justice, parallel ritual to and harmony throughout the world. The Elijah’s cup. A traditional Jewish belief is that Elijah will cup is filled with reappear one day, and the Messiah will water and set on follow soon after. More liberal Jewish the table near theologies look at the idea of Elijah’s arrival Elijah’s cup. This and the hope for Messianic redemption in a cup, Miriam’s cup, represents the biblical Miriam’s righteousness. Because of these non-literal way. For Jews with these beliefs, figure of Miriam, whom we meet in the strong associations of Miriam with courage, the entire tradition of hoping and waiting and in other parts of the liberation, and water, the custom of placing for the Messiah is a metaphor for the sacred Torah. Miriam was ’ older sister, and a ceremonial cup of water on the seder obligation of all people to work for justice she helped ensure that baby Moses was table in her honor has appealed to many and peace and, in so doing, to help bring rescued when his mother was forced to Jews who value gender equality. This ritual about a “Messianic era” of a world at one. send him adrift in the Nile River because honors the stories and contributions of of Pharaoh’s decree. Later, she led the women in Jewish tradition.

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Click logo to return to table of contents Guide to Passover for Interfaith Families • Maror – a bitter herb, • Charoset is a sweet, thick or chunky often horseradish, or bitter fruit and nut spread that symbolizes the greens like chicory or mortar that Jewish slaves used in their endive. It’s supposed to hard labors building cities and brick be uncomfortably hot! It buildings for the Pharaohs. Jews of represents the bitterness European descent usually make it with of slavery. (You can see apples, nuts, honey, sweet wine and people taking a “maror cinnamon. Jews from other lands have challenge” using very, very other ingredients, but it is always ground hot horseradish here.) or chopped to resemble mortar, and is • Chazeret – a bitter usually brown in overall color. vegetable or green, often Romaine lettuce. It’s also In some more liberal Jewish households, a symbol of the bitterness people add other symbolic foods to their Passover Foods: Foods of slavery, but it gets used seder plates to call attention to issues of That Tell the Seder Story in a different part of the oppression, liberation, justice and inclusivity. seder than the Maror. Two of these new items that growing The ritual foods of Passover tell the biblical • Karpas – a leafy green, very often parsley. numbers of Jews are adding to their seder story of the Exodus from Egypt and the Represents the rebirth of spring. plates are: story of the ancient rabbis who wrote the • Bay-tzah – a roasted egg. Also Haggadah. One contemporary , Jill represents the rebirth of spring and the • An orange – Putting an orange on the Jacobs, adds: “During the seder, we don’t national birth, or rebirth, of the Jewish seder plate was an idea originated by just tell the story of the Exodus, we see, people from out of the constraints Dr. in the 1980s. It smell, feel and taste liberation.” What follows of bondage. The roasting recalls the represented the inclusion of LGBTQ is a brief description of many of the special brought to the Temple and other marginalized people in the foods of Passover. in Jerusalem in ancient times. Jewish community, and the fruitfulness • Z’roah – a shank bone of a lamb. that these members of the community First, let’s focus on the foods that are placed Represents the Passover offering of a bring to Jewish life. Somehow, the new on a ceremonial plate, usually in the middle lamb made at the ancient Temple in custom she shared with her guests of the table or somewhere where everyone Jerusalem in the early spring. Sometimes morphed into a fast-traveling urban can easily see it. This special plate is called a chicken neck is substituted, and in legend, and the story changed so that the Seder Plate. The traditional foods on this vegetarian homes, a beet or a carrot may the orange was said to represent the plate are: be substituted.

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Click logo to return to table of contents Guide to Passover for Interfaith Families inclusion of women in Jewish religious the weeklong holiday. The plural of the have a cloth matzah cover, which has leadership roles. Today, for many, the Hebrew word matzah is matzot, with a three cloth partitions inside, so you can orange symbolizes all of the above. long “o” sound. slide one piece of Matzah into each of • Olives are sometimes included as a According to the Exodus story, the the interior sections. During the seder, call for peace between Israelis and enslaved ancestors of the Jewish people as mentioned above, there’s a point Palestinians. For a short accompanying hurried to flee Egypt once Pharaoh at which we take the middle matzah reading, click here and scroll to the had finally agreed to let them go. They and break it in half. Apart from the bottom of the web page. wanted to bring provisions with them, three pieces of matzah that are used ceremonially during the seder, people also have lots of boxes or platters of The food we serve at the Passover meal also can tell our own matzah on the table so that everyone can family stories through traditional dishes that have been passed have however much they want during the festive meal. on through the generations . • Salt water – people place one or more bowls of salt water on the table for the seder. At one point early in the seder, there’s a ritual activity in which everyone • Other symbolic foods have been added including bread that was baking in dips the green vegetable from the seder to the seder plate over the years – communal ovens. But in their desperate plate into the salt water and eats it. The Passover is a very flexible holiday, and haste to get out of Egypt before the salty water represents the tears of slaves, different families and communities adapt Pharaoh changed his mind, their bread as well as the waters of the Red Sea that it to their concerns and passions. If you’d didn’t have time to rise, so the slaves parted so the Jews could cross like to read about other examples of this took it as it was, flat and dry, and hurried into freedom. kind of ritual innovation, click here, here, towards freedom. For the whole week or here. of Passover, the tradition is for Jews Some Traditional Passover Foods to refrain from eating bread or baked The food we serve at the Passover meal There are also important symbolic foods on goods that have had time to rise – that also can tell our own family stories through the table that aren’t placed are leavened – and instead to eat only traditional dishes that have been passed on on the seder plate. matzah, which is also known as “the through the generations. • Matzah is unleavened bread – flat, bread of slavery,” “the bread of poverty,” porous, crumbly and pretty tasteless. It is and “the bread of affliction.” Passover foods are alien to most people the primary story-telling food at Passover. At the beginning of the seder, the hosts who have not celebrated the holiday before. It is the only bread that is eaten with a place three matzot, piled on top of All families have different traditions, but Passover seder meal, and throughout each other, on a plate. Some families there are some foods common to most

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Click logo to return to table of contents Guide to Passover for Interfaith Families Passover foods are alien to most people who have not celebrated the holiday before .

Jewish households in the United States. side dish at the Passover We have lots of Passover recipes available meal. It can also be on our website. made with Passover egg noodles. Want to see a • Horseradish is what most American master at work making Jews use for the ritual bitter herbs in one? Click here. the Passover seder. If you’ve never had • Tzimmis is a mixture of it, be careful: It’s related to mustard and fruits and vegetables, wasabi, and is strong and pungent. often carrots, potatoes •  soup, either chicken or and dried fruits. vegetarian based, is a favorite holiday Sometimes meat or food. Matzah balls are dumplings made chicken is added, and liberation and family origins in the traditional from matzah meal and eggs. You can the Tzimmis cooked into a sweet Haggadah text can expand to include buy a mix to make matzah balls. If you and savory side dish. You can see a your experience. Below we’ve included Google “matzah ball soup recipes” video demonstration on one family’s a bibliography of resources for families you’ll find literally hundreds, including recipe here. leading a Passover seder to help you make videos. (And there’s a matzah ball app • , , meringues something meaningful for everyone. for your iPhone.) and other eggy desserts are traditional • Gefilte fish is a poached fish ball or patty for Passover. Here’s the short list of what’s typically made of chopped deboned freshwater involved in hosting a seder: fish, eggs and matzah meal. Many Your Turn to Host the Seder? • Preparing the house for Passover (we’ll families eat it with horseradish to give it Perhaps you’ve turned to this guide because discuss this below) a kick. It was a food eaten by poor Jews you have married into a Jewish family and • Inviting guests (this doesn’t require in Eastern Europe and Russia. People this year, it’s your family’s turn to host the formal invitations! A phone call or email who are new to it – including Jews of Passover seder. This is awesome! Passover is will do it.) Sephardic or Mizrahi background – a perfect holiday to honor your own • Planning the seder service, including tend to either love it or hate it. family’s history while teaching your providing copies of the Haggadah you • Matzah or is a sweet or children about and connecting choose for each participant savory pudding sometimes served as a with your Jewish relatives. The themes of

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Click logo to return to table of contents Guide to Passover for Interfaith Families • Planning and coordinating the cooking flurry of preparations. Preparing for Passover is to plan ahead and eat up all the leavened of a festival meal, including wine or includes both a literal house cleaning and a food before the cleaning begins, or to grape juice and ritual foods. To satisfy ritual one. donate sealed-up packages of most Jewish guests, you’ll need to do to food banks.

In order to get rid of all the chametz in the home, in the days before the holiday begins, traditional Jews remove any foods that are leavened or fermented .

your best to prepare foods that are There are two major food rules that are kosher for Passover. (What’s this mean? part of the observance of Passover – 1) do More information can be found on our eat matzah, and 2) don’t eat or possess any website.) To be safe, pick up a Passover leavened food products made out of certain cookbook or a Jewish cookbook from grains – these foods are called chametz the bookstore or library – they will have in Hebrew. In order to get rid of all the lots of kosher-for-Passover recipes. chametz in the home, in the days before • Enjoying your family and friends the the holiday begins, traditional Jews remove night of the seder! any foods that are leavened or fermented, like bread, vinegar or beer, or that contain It can be a lot of work to host a seder, but any ingredients that could be made hopefully well worth it! 18Doors has a into something fermented, like flour. By helpful article with tips for making your searching for and removing all the chametz, seder inclusive and welcoming for people such as bread, pasta and crackers, traditional of multiple backgrounds and faith traditions. Jews ready their kitchens for the Passover There is a custom of selling your chametz foods they will eat at the seder and the rest to someone who is not Jewish. Since food of the week of Passover. is expensive and Passover is only one week Pre-Passover Preparation long, in the past—and some still today— Before Passover begins, many Jews have Some families try not to have any chametz traditionally observant Jewish families sell already begun their holiday observance in a at all in their possession. One way to do this any unused portions of leavened products

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Click logo to return to table of contents Guide to Passover for Interfaith Families to neighbors who aren’t Jewish, and then The idea at Passover is to be hospitable and inclusive, buy them back after the holiday. They may then gather all of these food products and to the best of a household’s ability . seal them away in some part of the home that becomes off-limits during Passover. Once sold, the chametz isn’t technically thing (feather and all). If you want to try it, 1. How long you envision the seder in their possession, even though they are there’s a really user-friendly and humorous lasting. It’s perfectly OK to hold a short actually storing it in sealed-up boxes in resource here. and sweet seder, or to hold an all- the basement, and even though they sold night-discuss-every-topic seder, but the food for some tiny amount of pocket your guests will appreciate knowing change. Some congregations use the legal Inviting Guests what they’re getting into if they accept fiction of the chametz “sale” as an excuse It is also a tradition to invite guests to the your invitation. For families with small to give money to tzedakah (charity): they seder. Many people will invite travelers, kids, arriving at a seder only to discover deputize their rabbi to sell the food for them, neighbors and friends, both Jewish and that it’s going to be three hours before and give him or her a check to be their not Jewish. The idea at Passover is to be the meal is served and then highly agent. The rabbi sells the leavened food to hospitable and inclusive, to the best of a intellectual discussions are going to people of other faith traditions and donates household’s ability. One of the best known carry on until 2 a.m. may turn the seder the agent money to charity. lines of the traditional Haggadah is, “Let all into, ironically, a form of bondage of its who are hungry, come and eat.” While it’s own, filled with antsy and bored kids and After the chametz is out of the house and not so easy to just throw your front door rumbling tummies. all household cleaning is done, shortly open, call out those words, and then get 2. What kind of Haggadah you before the holiday begins, some Jews ready for whomever might walk in the door, plan to use – is it strictly Orthodox, perform a ritual called bidikat chametz, there are still lots of ways people can act modern Reform, or a Haggadah with the “Search for Leavened Foods.” This is a on the spirit of these words. Some families a special theme, like vegetarianism, fun ritual especially for families with young focus on trying to invite one or two guests LGBTQ equality, etc.? You can use children. Here’s how it works: The evening whom they know are unlikely to receive an Haggadot.com to explore the many before the first seder, one person hides 10 invitation elsewhere. customizable options or purchase one bread crumbs throughout the house and that resonates with your family. then the family searches for them by candle One thing you can do to increase the 3. What level of keeping kosher for light, using a feather to scoop them into a likelihood of everyone enjoying your seder is Passover you are observing. If you paper cone or envelope. The next morning, to include in your invitation some key points invite someone who maintains a very you take them outside and burn the whole of information about the seder you are traditional form of observance, s/he will planning to hold. These include: appreciate knowing beforehand if your

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Click logo to return to table of contents Guide to Passover for Interfaith Families seder is one at which they wouldn’t feel provided an opportunity for Jewish comfortable eating, even though they culinary invention. Something to may deeply appreciate the intention keep in mind – especially for families behind the invitation. You may also want that are new at Passover – is that to indicate whether or not kosher-for- the traditional rules for observing Passover wine and grape juice will be the holiday are filled with dozens of the only wine/juice served, or whether details, especially around keeping that restriction won’t be followed. the kitchen kosher for Passover. For 4. What activities, if any, there will be for some families, the rules can feel so kids, both in the seder and away from overwhelming that trying to keep all the seder table. of them gets in the way of enjoying 5. What kinds of help you need to pull the festival and its main themes – all this off. It’s perfectly OK to ask for liberation, hope, and rededication support to make the evening work for to pursue freedom for all oppressed the kids and the adults, or ask some people everywhere. Our advice is guests to cook and bring certain dishes to contribute to the meal. 6. Has everyone had enough? Whether Talk as a family about how much of the various rules and customs you plan to go through the seder from you feel ready to take on, and then do your best to meet your goals, first page to last, or whether you are planning to play it by ear and, if there’s a while being forgiving of yourself and each other if you have lapses sense in the room that everyone’s kind or make mistakes . of “sedered out,” that you might just call it a night. (This sometimes happens after everyone is finishing up eating the The main Passover restriction is on five festive meal.) to talk as a family about how much of the grains – wheat, rye, barley, spelt, and various rules and customs you feel ready oats – that might be ground into flour and Passover Cooking to take on, and then do your best to meet fermented with yeast to rise. The exception Cooking for Passover is fun and, depending your goals, while being forgiving of yourself is, of course, matzah. Matzah is a large flat on how far into it you get, it can be and each other if you have lapses or make bread made of wheat flour or other grains complicated. The prohibition on using any mistakes. permitted on Passover. Matzah bakers mix leavened foods and the grains that even have the potential to become leavened has

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Click logo to return to table of contents Guide to Passover for Interfaith Families Passover is a holiday that the Jewish community has used, us about other types of liberation. We might focus on warfare, on poverty, on healthcare throughout the centuries, to remind us of our heritage of systems, on homelessness, on bigotry, on freeing others because we were freed . abuse in the home and a whole host of other issues important in a world of creating and restoring justice. A wonderful non- the flour with water and bake it immediately (or extended family) needs a way to have a profit organization called American Jewish in a hot oven so that it does not have a kosher-for-Passover Easter meal, we have World Service (AJWS) offers free Passover chance to rise. resources for that too. resources that connect the Exodus story and its moral mandate to current events, Jews have a long tradition of grinding raising our awareness of those who still Matzah into a flour-like consistency, called Passover Themes Meaningful suffer in bondage, and offering ideas for Matzah meal, to make ersatz versions to Interfaith Families how we can try to help these people. of non-Passover foods. It can be very The Passover story is the primary story More about that here. confusing to go into a supermarket and in Jewish history, and one that Jews retell find Passover cereal, Passover pasta and in short form at every prayer service in Passover is also a story about journeys. Passover cake mix, when you know that the words “…God, who freed us from Therefore it might be a time to tell our traditional Jews are avoiding regular cold Egyptian bondage…” Passover is an spiritual journeys to each other. We cereal, pasta and cake mix. This is just occasion to retell the whole story. might help each other by discussing and the modern version of Jews rising to the But telling the story is not enough. attempting to solve problems that have culinary challenge of Passover, to keep the been plaguing us (pun intended) for weeks laws that commemorate the Exodus from Passover is a holiday that the Jewish or months. And each of the Passover foods Egypt without giving up all of life’s goodies. community has used, throughout the that tell the Exodus story also helps us to tell centuries, to remind us of our heritage of our current stories. Your best bet for finding kosher-for-Passover freeing others because we were freed. It recipes is a Passover cookbook or kosher is the “slavery to freedom”’ theme that is Regardless of the themes chosen, by any cookbook, both of which are available at central to our command to be more than particular seder gathering, conversation and most bookstores and libraries. simply good people, but to be people who supportive argument is key to a successful pursue justice for others. Passover meal. While some homes By the way, for years when Easter falls don’t choose this path, it is customary in during the week of Passover, if your family Along with an end to slavery, in the literal traditional Jewish homes. sense, Passover also has the power to teach

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Click logo to return to table of contents Guide to Passover for Interfaith Families If your family is leading a seder, you can make it meaningful to all who come to the table: children and adults, Jewish and not Jewish relatives and friends .

Today, we can enhance our Passover resources to help you create an seders with puppets and engaging Seder that addresses the universal plays, toy plagues to throw themes of liberation and family origins of at each other, poetry and Passover. (See Additional Resources below). songs of freedom. For a look at hundreds of creative crafts Engaging Children and Adults projects families have used to Community Seders at entertain and teach their kids, and make the Synagogues: What to Expect The Passover seder is meant to be engaging. seder more fun, see here. People use the The Passover seder is a home observance, The most traditional seder features format of the seder to celebrate themes of and was not traditionally done in synagogue. storytelling, singing, foods as teaching freedom and justice, and the connection of Here in the U.S., congregations and Jewish tools, questions and answers, and an the Jewish historical experience with those organizations have offered public seders emotional journey. of other people. There are Black-Jewish for generations. They exist to offer a large seders that share the history of slavery. There community experience of Passover to Children have a special role in the seder. are Israeli-Palestinian seders that explore the people who might otherwise be alone It’s traditional for the youngest child to pain, suffering, and violence of the conflict, on the holiday or unable to create their recite the Four Questions in the Haggadah. and which seek to foster greater peace own seder. Some people will participate Passover traditions have a strong sense of and understanding. And there are rainbow in a temple seder one night and attend a play. In many families the adults hide the seders for all kinds of inclusive learning home seder on another night of Passover. (mentioned previously) for the and community. Temples also offer model seders that are children to find, or the children steal the usually geared for the Passover beginner afikoman and hide it from the adults. If your family is leading a seder, you can and for families with young children who Many Passover customs exist solely for make it meaningful to all who come to may not yet be ready to create a big holiday the purpose of making the children ask the table: children and adults, Jewish and experience at home. You can practice at a more questions. not Jewish relatives and friends. We have model seder and then go home and make provided a list of Haggadot and other your own.

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Click logo to return to table of contents Guide to Passover for Interfaith Families Temple seders can make good learning Additional Resources Cookbooks experiences for interfaith families, especially • Shulman, Zell. Passover Seders Made when neither partner in the household has Online Resources Simple. New York: Wiley, 2001. led their own seder. These are also good • Barenblatt, , ed. The Velveteen A cookbook and guide to planning the for single people who are away from family. Rabbi’s Haggadah for Pesach. menu at your Seder . They also serve as a comfortable training A non-denominational Haggadah with a ground for people who are considering lot of readings in English, transliterations • Wasserman, Debra. No Cholesterol or have just gone through a conversion for Hebrew text and good jumping-off Passover Recipes. Baltimore, Md.: process. Anonymity in large crowds often points for discussion . Vegetarian Resource Group, 1995. can feel more comfortable for learning than A vegan Passover cookbook that feeling put on the spot at a small private • 18Doors Staff. “Tips for Interfaith Families: conforms to strict Ashkenazi Passover gathering. In any case, however, the job How To Make a Seder Inclusive.” guidelines. of the leaders is to make the guests feel comfortable enough to join in and safe • Wiener, Julie. “What you need to know Haggadahs for Reading and Study enough to say no to participating if they about the Seder.” The Island Packet, • Dishon, David, and Noam Zion. are uncomfortable. A Different Night, The Family Participation Haggadah. Albuquerque, Temple seders are often shorter than home How-To Guides N.M.: Shalom Hartman Institute, 1997. seders and are also good for people who • Arnow, David. Creating Lively Passover This non-denominational Haggadah is want the full experience without the time in Seders: An Interactive Sourcebook of very complete, and makes a good source preparation and the duration of the meal Tales, Texts & Activities. Woodstock: for reading and study . itself. Jewish Lights Publishing, 2004. • Elwell, Sue . The Open Door: • Kay, Alan Abraham, and Jo Kay. A Passover Haggadah. New York: Central Make Your Own Passover Seder: Conference Of American Rabbis, 2007. A New Approach to Creating a Personal A Reform movement Haggadah that is Family Celebration. San Francisco: available as a book for purchase, or may Jossey-Bass, 2004. be downloaded online .

• Raphael, Geela Rayzel. “Five Interfaith Passover Readings You Can Add to Your Haggadah.” 18Doors.

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Click logo to return to table of contents Guide to Passover for Interfaith Families • Hoffman, Lawrence A., and David • Congregation Beth Adam. Beth Adam - • Silberman, and Ozeri. The Jewish World Arnow. My People’s Passover Haggadah: The Seder: A Contemporary Haggadah. Family Haggadah: With Photographs Traditional Texts, Modern Commentaries New York: Congregation Beth Adam, by Zion Ozeri. Akron, Ohio: I Books, Volumes 1 and 2. Woodstock, Vt.: 2006. A non-theistic, humanist Seder that 2005. Jewish Lights Publishing, 2008. contains most of the traditional rituals but This glossy Haggadah is beautifully no mention of God . illustrated with photographs that show User-Friendly Haggadahs Jewish diversity . • Codor, Liora, and Richard Codor. Richard • Roekard, Karen. The Santa Cruz Codor’s Joyous Haggadah: A Children Haggadah. Capitola, Calif.: Hineni • Levitt, Joy, and Michael Strassfeld. and Family Cartoon Haggadah for Consciousness Press, 1992. A Night of Questions: A Passover Passover Seder. New York: Loose Line An accessible Haggadah for adults with Haggadah. Elkins Park, Pa.: Productions, Inc., 2008. cartoon illustrations . Reconstructionist Press, 1999. A new children’s Haggadah with A good Haggadah for children lively pictures . and newcomers .

Photo credits (all Flickr images used under Creative Commons license 2.0) Cover: Flickr user Susan Sermonouth Pages 2, 5, 7, 15, 17: Flickr user Joshua Bousel Page 4: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Page 8: Flickr user danbruell Page 12: Flickr user Len Radin Page 13: Flickr user patsy

Non-credited images are royalty-free stock.

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Click logo to return to table of contents Guide to Passover for Interfaith Families