Published: 16 April 2016
Last updated: 4 March 2024
Of course, kein ayin hara, with the new husband and his children, the relatives from South Africa just arriving, there will be quite a few of us. And of course, the old husband must come along, nice to keep the family together. And I believe his new partner is a lovely woman - very close to her parents, who of course must join us. And the cousins who have nowhere to go? Well, what’s another four or five.
The house may not be big enough for the 45 or so, but I’m sure we can hire a small hall. And with the hired public address system, everyone will be able to hear and participate without a problem. Of course, not everybody likes to participate in quite the same way, some like to talk all the way through the Seder, sharing insights that on the surface you would think have nothing to do with Pesach.
We can certainly accomadate our lovely son-in-law, who, being Tibetan, likes to bring a little Buddhism to the Seder. It’s amazing the links you can make between different religions. The niece is bringing her friend, a Minister of the Uniting Church, which should bring a lovely ecumenical feeling to the evening, and what a blessing to have the cousin’s friend join us, an Aboriginal man who says he has so much resonance with the Jewish people. Richness. Blessings. G-t zu dank.
There is always someone who likes to use their own special Haggadah. We will have the Feminist Haggadah, the Politically Correct Haggadah, the Reform, the Reconstructionist, the Chassidic and, my favourite, the clear and precise Haggadah, and so it will be a wonderful variety of readings. There will be Yiddish poetry, a Sanskrit blessing, a rap direct from Harlem, and a belly dance as far as I know.
Now, it’s just knowing where to seat everyone. Should we put the broigus ones together, in an attempt to bring peace where there is strife? Is it better to put the anarchist next to the Chassid, hoping their shared passion will unite them? Does a Tibetan Buddhist mind being seated next to a Chinese adopted child? And is it acceptable to put the love birds, Michael and Steven, next to Julian, who after all is having her first Seder this year as Julie?
Thank goodness, we had our house kashered and fired and blessed by the Beth Din in time, and so our daughter, Baal Teshuva, G-d bless her, has agreed to sit with us, although she likes to bring her own food and plates anyway. Such a mensch.
It is a little bit of a worry knowing exactly what to serve. The wheat intolerant auntie is well catered for, and we have a lovely nut loaf for the vegetarians, but the vegans are a slight problem. There is talk of serving carrot soup or borscht instead of chicken but - oh you know how it is with tradition - Grandpa has put his foot down and threatens not to come unless everyone eats chicken soup. He says he didn’t come from Poland sixty years ago to eat carrot soup at Seder. We have decided that all three soups will give everyone something to eat. And if we seat Grandpa at the head of the table and the vegetarians down the other end … why he won’t even know the difference.
From oppression to freedom. Och, I spit three times, tt tt tt. May your Seder be full of joy and blessings. May it have meaning and touch you all, in your own unique ways.
What a wonderful world it is. Hag sameach!
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