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Friday March 16, 2007

A look at Passover seders from a do-it-all woman

by tracy salkowitz
correspondent

Best known for “He, She and It” and “Women on the Edge of Time,” celebrated author Marge Piercy has ventured into the realm of Jewish tradition and celebration with her latest publication, “Pesach for the Rest of Us.”

Reading this work, one cannot help but hearken back to one’s own childhood memories. “We begin our seder by remembering that Jews all around the world are gathered this evening to tell the story of our freedom from slavery,” began my father at the start of every seder. Throughout the book, childhood memories surface like a warm hug for both the author and the reader.

Piercy lays down the gauntlet to us all. Judaism is not about the letter of the law, but rather the spirit of the law. As she notes, the Hillel sandwich (eating matzah with both maror and charoset) was once a new invention! Making Passover meaningful to our families and loved ones, as well as to strangers, is to bring Judaism alive and ensure its passage from generation to generation.

Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of the evening and the telling of the story of Passover. With exhaustive research, Piercy provides historical content, varied traditions, poems, recipes and tips and suggestions.

The most surprising story I read was regarding the tradition of the orange on the Seder plate. It has become common knowledge that this began when a man in Florida protested the ordaining of women as rabbis by saying, “A woman belongs on the bimah as much as an orange belongs on the seder plate.” Many women to this day have begun the tradition of adding an orange in protest of sexism and in solidarity with women.

The true story is even more interesting. According to Piercy, Susannah Heschel was visiting Oberlin College in the early 80’s. Piercy tells the story: “A feminist Haggadah used at a seder there put a crust of bread on the seder plate, as a sign of solidarity with Jewish lesbians, symbolizing the lack of a home in Judaism for lesbians — so that they feel as out of place as a crust of bread on the seder plate. Heschel felt that there should be an acknowledgement of those excluded from traditional Judaism, but that the bread was a poor symbol, since it suggested that lesbians and gays were truly out of place in Judaism and a violation of it, like chametz on a seder plate.” And thus the tradition of placing an orange was founded.

My family and friends have always loved my seders because they don’t last until midnight, and we start off with the story and then everything else plays a supporting role. Providing everyone with their own mini seder plate cuts down hours in simply passing around the matzah, the maror, the charoset, etc. Heretical, maybe, but children and adults alike look forward to our seders. I had assumed when reading Piercy’s book that hers would provide similar suggestions. It doesn’t. I have no doubt that her seders go well into the evening.

The highlights of the book were the snippets of Piercy’s childhood. I found myself just loving her grandmother. “My grandmother’s gentleman cat, Blackie, always attended the seder, having a chair of his own. He did not, however, read the Haggadah. I was not convinced that he could not talk, but I understood that he, like me, had not been taught Hebrew.”

The greatest weakness in the book it is that the author tries to include too much. Remember when Fiddler on the Roof’s Tevye turns to one of his prospective sons-in-law and says, “What, are you the matchmaker, the groom and the Papa all rolled into one?” I found myself wanting to ask Marge Piercy a similar question: “What, are you the rabbi, cook, poet, participant and Martha Stewart, all rolled into one?” She lets you know that she grows her own vegetables, writes her own Haggadah, rewrites the blessings, creates new traditions, writes her own poetry and leads the seder. A little humility wouldn’t hurt.

I wouldn’t recommend the book to the newcomer to Passover. Let’s face it, putting on a seder is not for the faint of heart, and this book could easily encourage a first time host to run screaming in the other direction. I also wouldn’t recommend it to someone looking for a Passover cookbook — the recipes, while tasty looking, are awkwardly written.

That said, much of the book is terrific. I would recommend it for folks who love Passover and want to try out a few new traditions, expand their knowledge and try a little experimenting.

The most important message of the book is to make Passover your own family tradition. Try different readings, dishes and symbols. Get rid of what you don’t like and try something new. Change your traditions from year to year if you like. Don’t let the holiday become static. According to Piercy, more than 90 percent of Jews participate in Passover. Making this holiday as meaningful as possible isn’t just an obligation, it’s fun.

Oh my goodness, Passover is just a few weeks away! Excuse me while I go clean my closets…

“Pesach for the Rest of Us: Making the Passover Seder Your Own” by Marge Piercy (304 pages, Schocken Books, $22.95).

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