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March 22, 2002/Nisan 9, 5762, Vol. 54, No. 27
Orange on the seder plate
Model seder focuses on women
LEISAH NAMM
Assistant Editor
Dorothy Marks dips parsley in saltwater during the seder. Her daughter, B.C. Marks, was one of several who joined their mothers for the seder at Grand Court.
Photo by Leisah Namm
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When Jewish residents of a Phoenix retirement community requested a Passover seder last year, the facility graciously complied and served a Passover meal - with sandwiches.
This year, after hearing about this experience at a board meeting, the women of the National Council of Jewish Women, Valley section, decided to arrange a women's model seder and invited five different local retirement facilities, says Robbie Damesek, president of NCJW, Valley section. The group wanted to "do something to make this better for people who don't have family seders of their own," she says.
The Grand Court, a retirement community in Phoenix that also holds a traditional Passover seder for residents, offered to host the seder. It drew approximately 55 women - members of NCJW, residents of Grand Court and some of their respective mothers and daughters.
The other four facilities were unable to join them for the March 3 seder, but NCJW plans to invite them again next year, Damesek says.
Cantor Julie Berlin of Temple Solel led the seder, using a Haggadah compiled by NCJW member Irene Magerman.
"I've been to seders all my life, but never a women's seder," says Fanchon Marton, a Grand Court resident of 2 1/2 years. "I thought it was terrific."
The idea of a women's seder originated about 10-15 years ago as a result of the feminist movement, says Berlin.
A women's seder, usually held near Passover, is mainly symbolic, Berlin explains, and not a replacement for the traditional seder held on the first two nights of Passover. The Haggadah includes biblical passages about women and readings by women writers.
For example, the variation from the traditional Haggadah includes a passage about the Four Daughters, rather than the Four Sons. The service also includes Kos Miryam, Miriam's cup, a symbol of the Jewish people's past redemption from Egyptian slavery. The cup is "symbolically filled with mayim chayim, living waters from Miriam's Well," which was said to hold Divine power to heal and renew, according to the Haggadah.
Miriam is also invited to join the seder after the third cup of wine, along with the prophet Elijah.
Another notable difference is an orange on the seder plate. This tradition stems from a man's response to women's emerging equality in Jewish life, according to the Haggadah. The man's response was, "A woman belongs on the bimah as much as an orange belongs on the seder plate."
Members of NCJW prepared all the food for the seder, in addition to dessert, Damesek says. Some of the women's husbands served the food.
The seder was scheduled a few weeks in advance of Passover so it wouldn't disrupt members' preparations for the holiday. "We have a wonderful membership that did so much cooking and baking - they did it for this seder and then they (will do) it again for their own families," Damesek says.
Marton and Eva Ackerman, a resident of Grand Court for 1 1/2 years, both plan to attend the Grand Court traditional seder on the second night of Passover.
Seventy percent of Grand Court residents are Jewish, says Sonya Setter, sales and marketing director. The retirement facility also has Hanukkah and Purim celebrations, meals for Rosh Hashana, a Yom Kippur break-fast and a weekly Friday night Shabbat service led by residents. For Ackerman, observing the Jewish holiday celebrations at Grand Court is "very nice when you don't have your family near you."
NCJW is a volunteer organization, inspired by Jewish values, that works through a program of research, education, advocacy and community service to improve the quality of life for women, children and families, and strives to ensure individual rights and freedoms for all. The Valley section, which encompasses all of Arizona, has more than 200 members. Call 480-575-9929.
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