Seder Plate History

Let’s “Dish” About the Seder Plate! In ancient times our sages taught that in anticipation of the Passover holiday, we Jews should prepare a specially made, large wicker container in which to place Passover’s symbolic foods. This wicker container would then be displayed on the seder table. That’s right. The first seder plate wasn’t made […]

Trauma at the Seder Table

seder meal

With the “good dishes” gracing the table, wine glasses gleaming and places set for 26 guests, the annual Passover seder was, as PopPop pronounced, “ready for prime time.” But in seconds the tranquility of the evening was disturbed by the shrieks of the two youngest granddaughters. “It’s my turn to put the parsley on the […]

The Modern Seder – Women’s Role

seder plate with orange

New Passover Traditions Arise As We Celebrate the Changing Role of Jewish Women: Beginning in the mid 1970’s when the first woman rabbi was ordained in the Reform movement, modern Jews have expanded the role that women play in Jewish culture, tradition and observance. Changes have taken place on the bima where most synagogues now […]