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Home , Haggadah

THE QUARANTINE SEDER: A Haggadah Companion

Introduction1

Passover will be different this year for almost everyone This resource is designed to help you plan a memorable around the world. Many people will be leading a Seder for Seder befitting this year’s unusual circumstances. But the first time. Many Seders will be small. There will be please don’t see it as a to-do list, or as the be-all and end-all more Seders this year than ever before in history! of what your Seder should look like. We all have enough to worry about. Pick and choose what will be helpful and fun Many of us are grieving the Seder that will not take place and relaxing for you and your family, and drop all the rest. this year, and the people we were looking2 forward to Remember: this is a holiday that celebrates freedom! celebrating with. The teaches, “The gates of tears are never closed” – even when we pray for something that cannot take place. Grieving our losses can open the space to explore new opportunities for what is possible during this time of social distancing.

1 Written by Dr. Ronit Ziv-Kreger, Momentum Director of Education and Leadership Development, inspired by Momentum Trip Leaders, staff, and years of Seders with wonderful educators, , friends and family. 2 Hagigah 5. A Small Seder – Is it legit?

Isn’t the Seder all about passing story from generation to There’s more to the Seder than We can choose to get creative, generation? What’s the point of having the number of participants, and both in the planning stages and a Seder when the different generations there are precedents for tiny during the Seder itself. can’t come together? Two thoughts on Seders. this question frame this Haggadah companion:

There’s more Choose to get creative – to the Seder planning in advance

3 The Talmud teaches that this time of year and this While we provide different ideas for the planning phase, we particular month are not only about the redemption recommend keeping it simple so that you can focus on the from Egypt which occurred many years ago, this is also a spiritual opportunity that the Seder is meant to offer you. propitious time for the future redemption as well. The Seder provides a spiritual opportunity. Preparation: An important part of Jewish ritual in general, and of in particular, is preparing. This year, We are living in a historic moment; we’re all facing a unleash creative opportunities to embrace the voice of challenge together. How can human consciousness be each family member, including those who may not be with affected by this unprecedented global situation? What are you during the Seder. How might children play a role in your deepest hopes? How might we experience this year planning your family Seder? as an emergence from bondage to freedom? The story of the Seder moves from dis-grace to the grace of praise. This Surprise questions and notes: One way to bring in the transition is not only from Egypt to the splitting of the sea, voice of those who will not be at your Seder is to have family but also from our current situation to a future we dream of, members and friends send each other stories, blessings, aspire to, and aim toward. and questions to read during the Seder.

A central aspect of the Seder is asking questions. These are Advance ritual check-ins: As part of your preparation, questions from the future4 generation, from the children, leverage the days leading up to the Seder by checking in but the Talmud teaches that when children are not present, with family and friends in ritually rich ways. Some people adults should ask each other – and even a person having the may plan to have a video call the day before the Seder at a Seder alone should not miss the spiritual opportunity to ask time that accommodates different time zones, during which him- or herself questions. family members and friends can share stories and maybe even sing together. Yochanan ben Yosef Treves (16th century) composed a guide for the Seder in the aftermath of great persecution Shared learning: Have your whole family join one of the Momentum webinars when many families were split apart. He taught that most together from wherever they are, and people think that , the storytelling portion of the then have a group conversation about the teaching. Seder, refers to the biblical verse that instructs us: “Tell your children.” This explanation might not have resonated Cooking “together”: One can even cook “together” with with people who were alone, so he offered a second friends or family members. You can all make the same explanation: The word Maggid is related to , the recipe and send photos to each other, or talk via phone or spiritual, story-like parts of the Talmud, making the case video while cooking. that the Maggid section of the Seder is about inspiring ourselves and learning lessons. Have children call grandparents to learn family recipes, or better yet, have a video conversation to enjoy the shared ritual preparation from afar. Engage your children with creating edible ten plagues!

3 Rosh Hashanah 11a. 4 116a. Collaborative supplement or book: Using Google Docs, Plan for royalty: Jewish tradition sees the dining6 table you can collaborate with family members and friends on as our home’s sacred space. The Talmud teaches that the making your very own Haggadah supplement. Invite each transformational power of the altar, which stood in the person to contribute a section or a story. Teens may be Holy Temple in , is now most available at our willing to interview a family elder to add their voice. Those table. How might you make the table special? who can’t join together can still print out the document and use it at their own Seder. To make your own Passover book, What different spaces in your home might be fitting for Bookcreator.com this example check out and . different parts of the Seder? Can your Seder include times to move and stretch your body? Can you make the leaning, Make-at-home, do-it-yourself workshop: Consider a which is part of the Seder, a nod to royalty and comfort? crafting and Jewish learning opportunity for Pesach with Perhaps you can hold the Seder on the couch, or somewhere online Atiq: The Jewish Maker Institute, which offers an you’ll be really comfy. Kids can have fun designing an workshop for all ages. The workshop explores what it adventurous setting for storytelling and royal comfort. means to be free and offers guidance for crafting modern, Smaller Seders allow for new flexibility. interactive Seder objects inspired by the traditional texts Storytelling props and games: Consider engaging children and your own unique perspectives. Their aim is to connect in preparing fun props to use during the storytelling this you to the Seder experience, to your own sense of freedom, year. This can include puppets, Legos, cartoons, plays, and to each other. Instructions are written for teens and costumes, a basket and baby doll, a bag full of adults, but the workshop itself is kid-friendly. Children ages plagues, and the like. Older children might enjoy creating 7 and up will get the most out of this workshop, but younger a game for the Seder, such as Pesach Bingo or Jeopardy, ones can still enjoy crafting alongside everyone else! matzah mosaics, or an “Escape Room” adventure of short videos leaving Egypt. Plan an scavenger hunt with clues Activities for young children: Include PJ Library favorites connected to the Seder plate items (-vegetables, egg, and holiday books. Check out these . Mah shankbone, fruit and nut mixture, and - Some children may want to learn or brush up on the Year of Nishtanah bitter herbs). Check out the Try it Out section of the , the Four Questions song, while others may Growth’s Passover chapter . prefer building a tent, booth, or fort like the had Yoga poses that in the desert. Children can learn or lead Helping those in need: Include in your planning for the go along with the Passover story . You can print the script Seder a way to care for those who are in need. There are and invite the children to do the poses during the Seder. many who are suffering now in different ways. How might Baby Moses song They also might enjoy learning a simple . we share what we have in order to care for others who need Godly Play’s Children and adults might like soulful our help, especially in advance of the holiday? telling of the Passover story, which5 ends with a series of conversation-starter questions . Search for leaven: The night before the Seder is traditionally the time for a symbolic, seek-and-destroy wonderful Haggadah PJ Library also offers a with an option mission in which families search their homes to ensure for a free PDF printout to help guide the Seder in a child- that all -leaven has been removed. Make this friendly way. If you are leading a Seder with children, it’s adventurous for the children by hiding ten wrapped really worth it! Cheerios or pieces of chametz around the house. At nightfall the search begins. As each piece of chametz is short video found, it's collected in a paper bag. Here’s a of the ritual. The search concludes the next morning with reciting a blessing and burning the chametz.

5 The last three ideas are from The Paradigm Project, which nurtures the seeds of excellence in Jewish early childhood education. 6 Menachot 97a. Yachatz Choose to get creative – 4. – breaking: Can you think of an example when something broken led to more wholeness? What feels fragile at the Seder now for you? Consider the line in a song by Leonard Cohen: “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” What might this mean for you? How might this line reframe The fourteen steps of the Seder: Consider how we look at each other during tough moments? inviting the children and all who are present Maggid 5. – retelling the story: Why are you telling the to invent and agree on a hand motion for each Passover story this year? What about your own family story step of the Seder. Then sing the fourteen steps would you want to retell? while making the chosen hand motions. When – this is the bread of poverty: Try a new you reach a new step during the Seder, you 8 Sephardic custom, which many children enjoy: The mother can restart the song, stopping at the step you or grandmother raises the Seder plate with the three reached. matzahs and walks around, briefly placing the plate on each participant’s head while everyone chants, Bivhala yatzanu Explain the focus on asking questions at the miMitzraim, “In a rush we left Egypt.” This foreshadows Seder, and choose how the group will cheer, the transformation from the bread of pain and affliction, at acknowledge, or reward questions. Some this point in the Seder, to the bread of freedom later in the families may choose a special cheer – maybe Seder. Kol Dichfin even a personal cheer each individual selects – let all who are hungry come and eat: Whom for themselves, while others may choose to would you like to have invited or included in your Seder this use food or other treats to acknowledge good year? Is there a story about or from that person that you can questions. Underscore that all questions are retell? While the social isolation this year prevents us from inviting into our home anyone who is hungry to come and welcome. eat, it is still a time to consider those in need. Whom might Kadesh 1. – making holy: The blessing over the wine speaks we want to help nourish, and how? of the completion of a creative process. What was a holy, awe-inspiring moment for you this year? Consider the The act of giving brings joy to the giver, not only to the different types of activities you do. Which one makes you recipient. How can we be extra welcoming to those who are feel most alive, or makes you feel that7 you are fulfilling the in our home (ourselves included)? When during this year purpose of your creation the most? What creative gifts of did you take part in or witness generous giving? Ahavah, other family members do you see as an expression of their the Hebrew word for love, is related to the word hav, which possible callings? means “give.” How might you grow love for others and for yourself through generosity? Urchatz 2. – washing: This is a handwashing without a Mah Nishtanah blessing, in memory of ancient times. What memories – what is different about this night: and meaning will be drawn from this year’s extensive What important, challenging, or inspiring questions are handwashing when we look back at it? coming up for us at this time? Maya Bernstein describes recipe for successful change a based on the verses of the Karpas 3. – vegetables: We begin the Seder with a taste Mah Nishtanah, which can inspire a conversation. What of spring. After the cold and darkness of winter, the gives you hope that things that need to change will change? rejuvenation of spring reveals itself. But why would we dip What’s your favorite song about hope or change? How is this the symbols of growth and renewal in salt water, which night different from the Passover we experienced last year? symbolizes tears? What’s the value of acknowledging pain and sadness during a celebration of freedom and hope? The Four Children: How is each of the four children The Four Children Why begin with that? What are the different reasons you get present within each one of us? Consider and COVID-19 teary? When are tears purifying, and what do we want our by Jordan Namerow. Consider playing tears to purify us from – and for what purpose? charades with characters (from books, movies, etc.) who fit one of the four children. Once someone guesses the Children may enjoy doing the following science experiment: character, invite each person to make a case why this See how much salt must be added to a bowl of warm water character was chosen for that particular iconic child. in order to make something float.

7 Slightly adapted from Dr. Erica Brown’s Seder Talk: The Conversational Haggada (Jerusalem: Koren Publishers, 2015). 8 From Sabrina Burger. Vehi She'amdah – God’s promise has stood: This is a song In every generation, each person should see themselves of resilience, standing up to persecution, and overcoming as having personally gone out from Egypt: , challenges. Who are your heroes, and what challenges have a medieval Jewish philosopher, adds10 the Hebrew letter heh they overcome? What challenges have you overcome? Who to the word “see” in this phrase. Instead of lirot, “to see,” supported you? Whom have you supported to overcome a he is of the opinion that it should be le’harot, “to show” challenge? The Haggadah promises that God helps and even – changing the meaning from “see themselves” to “show rescues the Jewish people from trouble. Was there a time9 this themselves.” Our posture can show the stature of a liberated year when you sensed God helping the Jewish people? person. Invite everyone at your table to use body language to first show an enslaved person, and to then show a liberated One way to acknowledge the theme of “standing up” is to person. How would you like to see – or show – yourself in the literally stand up and incorporate some movement into the future after experiencing the coronavirus pandemic? Seder. For example, do yoga poses to tell different parts Rachtzah of the Passover story (see page 3) and give everyone the 6. – washing hands: What’s the difference between opportunity to stretch. Consider setting up stations in your washing our hands clean and washing our hands to ritually home. For example: a pyramid station that has blocks, Legos, prepare for something? straws, and paper clips; a dress-up station to pretend to be Motzi Matzah Pharaoh, Pharaoh’s daughter, Moses, , or the slaves; a 7. – blessing on matzah: Try having a quiet, split-the-sea station, with blue sheets or hanging blue crepe mindful moment as you chew the matzah, reflecting on paper sheets. You can also have a station for shaping 14 balls simplicity and tasting the plain flavor of matzah. What of Sephardic thick date-nut charoset (fruit and nut mixture) can help you be fully present for this potential spiritual and making a pyramid with them with 3x3 balls as a base, peak of the Seder? What nourishment does our world need 2x2 balls over them, and one ball on top. now? Might a slow, meditative chewing of the matzah of transformation give you hope? Take time to consider and Makkot – the ten plagues: What have been plagues during pray for what you most yearn for. your family’s journey? Maror Korech 8. and 9. – bitter herbs and the “Hillel Select a long, light-colored plate and put a layer of water on sandwich”: Ask the children, what is something “bitter” that it. Have a child sprinkle a lot of black pepper on the water. they would like to fix in the world? The Seder is designed Ask an adult to put their finger in the peppered water. to be a multisensory experience with opportunities for Nothing will happen. Then, without drawing attention to taste, song, and movement; and an experience that evokes it, put dish soap on the child’s finger. When the child puts emotions – laughter, yearning, hope, and sadness. How their finger in the peppered water — voila! — the waters will might all this help bring forth empathy? Toward whom might split, just like in the Passover story for the Israelites to pass you direct that empathy now? through. Shulchan Orech 10. – the festive meal (literally, “the set Dayeinu – enough: Which things, people, places, table”): What’s your favorite food memory from a Seder you experiences, and learning opportunities are you grateful for participated in? this season? How can you sing about them? Can you use the Tzafun afikoman tune and structure of the traditional Dayeinu to add your 11. – hidden ( – dessert): What are we personal gratitude? For what are you grateful to the Jewish hiding from ourselves? When might it be a time to hide? people? Moses’ life began with being hidden for three months. Miriam, Moses’ sister, hid behind the reeds when Moses was Pesach Matzah Maror , , and – shankbone, matzah, and placed in the basket. We hide the afikoman early in the Seder bitter herbs: Which foods play a special role in your family and then find it at the end. What lost part of ourselves, our story? In the beginning of the Seder, matzah symbolized the family, or our Jewish tradition might we have found in the bread of poverty, affliction, and pain. Now the same matzah process? Why is it important to finish the meal by finding symbolizes the bread of freedom. When have you seen what’s hidden? How might we all find our inner child’s someone transform a challenge into an opportunity? What playfulness to make this favorite Seder step for children also challenges with the coronavirus and quarantine are you engaging for the adults? Go on an afikoman scavenger hunt. hoping to remember as having been transformed into some The children on the hunt solve a riddle about each item on form of goodness, healing, love, or the like? the Seder plate, which leads them to the next hiding place.

9 From The Ayeka Haggadah: Hearing Your Own Voice, by Aryeh Ben David, 2017. 10 From David Dishon and Noam Zion, A Different Night: The Family Participation Haggadah (Jerusalem: The Shalom Hartman Institute, 1997), p. 115. Barech 12. – blessing after the meal: Jewish tradition is 13. – praise and gratitude: Sing your favorite song of loaded with many blessings – for every life passage, and for gratitude. Invite each person to share something from this many daily and seasonal events. Of all the11 blessings, only past year for which they are grateful to God. one is explicitly commanded in the Torah: the blessing Nirtzah after a meal. Why, from all possible blessings, did God 14. – conclusion: Sing your favorite song about focus on the blessing after eating? To whom and how do you freedom or happiness. Bring your whole selves into it with offer gratitude when you enjoy a meal? swaying, clapping, or dancing!

11 The rabbis count the blessing on studying Torah as being from a biblical source as well, but the reference is less explicit. Chag Sameah! חג שמח!

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