Passover Seder: New twists on old story

Home-made or artistic Seder plates can be symbolic statements in themselves. One size does not fit all in today’s Passover Seders.

Some families in the Tampa Bay area still prefer the traditional Seder, where participants read of the rabbis of old — Elazar, Asariah, Tarphon and others — as they recount the events of the Exodus long into the night. But many Seder goers have added new touches to this old tale, incorporating innovations that bring the pharaoh, plagues and Exodus from Egypt to life in ways that entertain as well as inform.

The tradition of retelling the Exodus is still in place, but in new ways. Each family seems to put its own imprimatur on the story.

Some Tampa Bay families have added makeshift tents, togas and re-enactments of Moses pleading with pharaoh, “Let my people go.” Others have added their own prayers and songs, or put new items on the Seder plate alongside the traditional roasted egg, horseradish and other familiar symbols.

Naomi Rubenstein and husband, Mayer Rubenstein are an example of a family that individualizes its Seder. Winter residents of Clearwater, the couple began sprucing up their Seders years ago in their native Massachusetts for their northern grandchildren.

“We would come dressed as traveling Israelites and act out the story in the living room,” she said. “That helped relieve the tiredness of sitting for so long.”

In 2005 the Rubensteins hosted their first Seder in Clearwater for their local grandchildren — Isaac, Adam and Benjamin Berner, sons of the couple’s daughter Debbie and her husband, Dr. Jody Berner, of Clearwater. The children came dressed as Israelites and Pharaoh.

“They wore bathrobes and headdresses and made scepters and rods from broomsticks,” said Naomi Rubenstein. “I came dressed as a harem woman in Pharaoh’s court.”

Debbie Berner credits her mother with having written plays for the children to act out, but as the boys got older, the adults added different elements to the Seder to make it fun.

“Last year we played ‘Jewpardy’,” said Debbie Berner of the family’s modern take on the long running television quiz show Jeopardy. “The topics all related to Passover and the kids each took a turn to answer the questions.”

This year, she said, the boys will plan the special effects themselves. “It will probably be some sort of music video they will create about the Passover story.”

Making the Seder relevent

Rabbi Danielle Upbin of Congregation Beth Shalom in Clearwater has taught congregants some ways to make the old new.

Her suggestions include assembling guests in the living room to begin the service, noshing on carrot sticks or other snacks (Pesadik, of course), and telling the story in a relaxed environment before adjourning to the formal meal.

Other possible new spins on the Seder: asking participants to tell what freedom means to them — as Jews and as Americans; comparing the four sons of the haggadah — the wise, the wicked, the simple and the one without the capacity to ask—to four objects, such as a “wise” car, for instance a hybrid.

Another cup on the table

The cup of wine for Elijah on the Seder table is a must for most Jewish families. The wine cup is set aside for the prophet Elijah who, legend has it, will precede the coming of the Messiah. Now many Seder tables also hold a Miriam’s cup.

Joyce Tawil of Tampa is one of those who recently added Miriam’s cup of water to her table.

“Tonight we welcome two prophets,” reads a prayer selected by the Tawil family. “Not only Elijah, but Miriam, the sister of Moses.”

The water in Miriam’s cup reputedly comes from the prophetess’ well, which legend has it contains divine powers for healing and renewal.

Seder plate additions Seder plates may offer surprises as well. In some homes the Seder plate, which is the focus of the dinner table, now holds an orange and perhaps a small plate of potato peels alongside the roasted egg, lamb shank, parsley and horseradish.

Potato peels are said to symbolize the dearth of food available to Holocaust victims in the camps.

The use of the orange, which began appearing on Seder plates in the early 1980s, is attributed to several sources. Jewish feminist scholar, Susannah Heschel, daughter of the famed Jewish philosopher and teacher, Abraham Heschel, is credited with using the orange to represent often marginalized Jews, including gays and lesbians. The orange indicates that all Jews can make meaningful offerings to the Jewish community.

Another interpretation stems from a legend that a man, perhaps a rabbi, shouted that a woman belongs on the bimah of the synagogue the way an orange belongs on the Seder plate. Some women found that comment an incentive to add the orange as a tribute to Jewish women and their right to participate in synagogue rituals.

“We put an orange on the Seder plate and have been doing it for at least seven or eight years,” said Carol Simon of Tampa. “And of course we have a cup of water for Miriam on the table as well.”

A symbolic lashing

Another custom that has found its way to Seders of late is the use of scallions — long green onions that represent the switches used by the Egyptians to lash the Israelite slaves. It is reputedly an Afghani custom.

Carol Simon and her husband, Jeff, have incorporated this custom also, an amusement for the couple’s four grandchildren.

“We each take a bunch and beat them on the table,” she said.

Palm Harbor residents, Dr. Ira and Ellen Siegman, along with their two sons, have made use of the scallions as well.

“We take green onions and whip them around in circles over everyone’s head,” Ellen Siegman said.

‘There’s No Seder Like Our Seder’

Families that have followed tradition for many years may change when an interfaith marriage takes place.

When Jordan Tawil, the son of Joyce and Robert Tawil, got engaged, his mother wanted to create a Seder the couple’s future daughter in-law, Chelsea Blackie, would enjoy. Chelsea, who is not Jewish, attended her first Seder last year at the Tawil home.

“I embarked on a journey to put together a Seder service that was pleasing to the eye, meaningful, colorful and short and sweet,” Joyce Tawil said.

The finished product included an original haggadah printed on parchment paper, with photos of beautiful ancient haggadahs from around the world interspersed throughout the book. Joyce also added family memories of past Seders and, this year, old family recipes as well.

The new service incorporates elements of the Tawil family’s Sephardic roots. One reading, Joyce said, features a dialogue in Arabic, transliterated into English, with a bit of humor, wherein a nosy border guard interrogates a wayward Israelite leaving Egypt.

Avant-garde touches have even made their way to community Seders.

A local community un-Seder Seder has made musical comedy the soul of the evening. The Kosher Hams, a group of 12 Tampa Bay area residents, including three local theater performers, are staging their fifth annual Greater Seder on March 30 at the Rusty Pelican in Tampa.

This year the Seder will feature an outer space theme — “Star Drek” — starring Captain Moses and the crew of the J.S.S. Exodus as they lead the Hebrew slaves from the evil planet, Egyptia, to their new home in the Milchig Way.

Rande Friedman, producer of the event, said participants sing their way through the evening with parodies of popular songs, many from Broadway shows.

“There’s No Seder Like Our Seder” springs from “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” Those who remember television’s popular show Gilligan’s Island may pick up on this parody: “Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale — a tale of a fateful trip.”

Friedman said the Seder, which often draws 150 people, is a big hit. “People who haven’t been to Seders in years come to this one,” he said. “They love it.”