Creatively Socially Distancing

Passover Seders are supposed to be relational and fun! We raise our glasses for prayers, then clink and say L’Chaim together. During the Seder a child is instructed to ask four questions (then to sit back on a cushioned chair … but not fall asleep). We watch for reactions to the maror, and laugh and sing a song about a little goat. Without planning our self quarantined Seders will be somber and lonely.

With creativity and forethought we can create interaction throughout the evening. One suggestion already given is to use a computer (with good Bluetooth speakers) for the main Seder. We can also text and hold side conversations on the cell phone during the evening. Pictures can also be made and sent back and forth.

But there are other things we can do. These are from a list of questions that appear in my April 1 blog:
     9. On all other Passovers after the Matzoh is broken, a piece goes missing and must be found by the children … Why must the children search in multiple houses on this night?

My challenge for Passover is to think out of the box, literally. Normally, during the Passover Seder the Afikoman is snatched and hidden. But what if the grandkids are not in your house - How can they search for the hidden Matzoh? It could be that the leader of the Seder would respond to the children’s instructions of “turn right” or “go straight” along with the “Hot” or “Cold” remarks, but why not think out of the house? This year, the Afikomen could be snatched virtually. This takes coordination. What is important for proof that the Matzoh is actually the same is the wrapping … it must be in the same covering.

Here is what you must do: The leader and one of the attendees will coordinate the hiding of the Matzoh. When the Matzoh is “snatched,” it disappears out of the house. The search can begin within the house, but when all leads are exhausted, the leader should hint at, “Did someone reach in through the computer and move the Afikomen to their house?” A series of questions, and a continued search can ensue … with denials, and cell phone texts and calls as grandchildren look in their own homes for the Afikomen. Make it challenging and fun!

This is a chance to show off things within each person’s homes, that might not be noticed in a normal visit. Allow the search time to be completed.

10. On all other Passovers we open one door to welcome Elijah … why on this night do we open many doors for the great prophet?

Normally at our Seder, all the children open the door together in order to greet Elijah. But this year is different! There will be children at every house served by our virtual Seder. What can you do? Send them each to their own doors, along with the computer or cell phone video. But can we do more?

Think about how you would greet a special visitor at your home. With song, with signs, confetti, in your pajamas, in a tuxedo? You get the idea. We are to think outside the box, and make a show virtually. Let the door openers use props, songs, or drama at the door. Plan a virtual award for the most creative welcome for Elijah. This should make the Passover Seder lots of fun!

Thinking outside of what we normally do, that is what my newest book, Psalmatic Seder is about. Many of my readings said, “the Passover Seder is not really that old … it came into the form we use in the Middle Ages.” As I thought about these articles I was reading, I thought about the Book of Psalms, possibly dating to the time of the first Temple, definitely written before 200 BC. Psalm 78 and 105 are actually Passover Haggadahs. THese formed the basis for this Haggadah. The Seder follows the normal 15 steps (and unsurprisingly, so does the Book of Psalms) so I followed this format, but used some different verses. This presentation will produce a familiar, but refreshing Passover Celebration. Please look up the Psalmatic Seder on Amazon.com

Pesach from Psalms, a new idea!