A Passover in forced Diaspora

There is no doubt about it, this Pesach will be different than any other. The joyous festivity that comes from interaction as a family, following of traditions, the telling of the story, and a great dinner will not be the same this year. The family will be separated and the fantastic feast will be downsized. BUT it can be more that what we think, just different.

As an educator and a participant of many Seders, I want to bring us as close to normal as possible. I think many of us are already understand that one solution is a video app on social media. I want to lay out some ideas on how to use this tool to bring a degree of normalcy to our Passover eve.

Two days ago, I made a list of questions to help us in re-creating a quality Seder in the midst of troubling times. In the answers of these questions, I hope to pull out usable ideas to bring togetherness even when we are separated from extended family. If you have other ideas, please use comment section to share with others, and help us all do a better job this year at our Seders. Also, read the ten questions from April 1, and five following days for answers (two per day).

2. On all other Passovers we light one candle or two … why on this night of Passover do we light many candles, and who says the blessing?

One of the important things that needs to happen this year at our Seders is duplication. Don’t try to take shortcuts … it will lead to loss. When you use Social Media to guide Passover Seders in multiple homes, each home needs to have all the accompanying props. This begins with the candles.

As the Seder gets underway, one person (the person who normally does this) should say the blessing and light the candle. That is, on the main computer for Passover eve (see yesterday’s blog).

Each home represented during the evening also needs candles, as close as possible to what is normally used. Virtual candles are … virtual. There is something about the presence of an actual flame that fascinates us. The flame wavers with the environment of the room, and we are fascinated by its dance. Each clandle burns on its own time table. One of the games we played at a Shabbos dinner was to notice when each person’s candle went out, and watched the smoke. Don’t shortchange the props. Every house needs to have them.

The candles can be lighted with one blessing (given on the main computer), and lighted simultaneously.

6. On all other Passovers we each take a nosh from a big fancy Seder plate set by the big fluffy matzoh tosh … Why on this night must we set our specialty foods on a dainty side dish?

The thought on the candle needs to continue with the Seder plate and Matzoh. Each prop and item needs to be duplicated. Although the Seder can be led from across the street, or from thousands of miles away, the food must be tasted by our tongues. Each home should have a Seder plate with all the elements. If there is a family recipe (for the Charosis), it should be shared. Each family needs its own shank bone and Matzoh, also. Wine should be available on all tables, and refilled at appropriate times.

The tastes and sounds of the Seder creates the proper environment. The secret for today is, don’t take shortcuts.

While each family should use its normal Haggadah (and have a copy for each person, like normal), I developed a Haggadah from Psalms (a New Haggadah in an older format than what we use today). I would appreciate you taking a look in the preview mode on Amazon, and maybe even buing a copy, just to see what it is. Please look up the Psalmatic Seder on Amazon.com