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Friday March 23, 2007

South Bay women sweeten Passover with dessert seder

by dan pine
staff writer

The seder starts out typically enough, with a chorus of “Hinei Mah Tov.” But when everyone goes around the table detailing their matrilineage, declaring “I am ____, daughter of ____, daughter of ____” — it’s clear that this is no ordinary seder.

The Passover Women’s Seder has been a tradition at Congregation Beth Am for 15 years. The Los Altos Hills Reform synagogue stages the event every Pesach, and each year attendance increases, topping out at nearly 120. But the number of genders eligible to attend remains at one.

“This is about bringing generations of women together to celebrate various freedoms, explore heritage and learn about our matriarchs,” said co-chair Cherie Half.

As far as the customary steps of a traditional seder, all are included, from kadesh to nirtzah, as led by Beth Am Senior Rabbi Janet Marder. Apart from the absence of men, there’s another crucial difference between the Passover Women’s Seder and the one at Uncle Bernie’s: It’s BYOD, or “bring your own dessert.”

“When we break for the meal, instead of pot roast, we break for fruits and desserts,” said Linda C. Kramer, a Los Altos attorney who co-chairs the event with Half. “People make fantastic chocolate desserts out of matzah meal. And they’re moist!”

Founders of the event pooled their talents to create their own Haggadah, one that stresses the role women have played in Jewish life. Local artist and ketubah-maker Lisa Rauchwerger crafted original paper-cut art for the cover, while biblical characters like Miriam and Zionist martyr Hannah Senesh figure prominently in the text. And instead of the Four Sons, meet the Four Daughters.

Half first came up with the idea for an all-woman’s seder while preparing for her adult bat mitzvah. She approached the rabbis at Beth Am, who wholeheartedly supported the concept.

“We didn’t think we’d have a lot of people come, but we had 40,” she recalled. “It was packed. The concept was a dessert seder so no one had to cook — just bring fruit or wine.”

Attendees these days have the option of bringing a bottle of wine (kosher for Passover, of course), fruit for 12, charoset for 12, or a specialty dessert.

“I make a tart with fruits and nuts,” Kramer said. “It’s sticky and gooey, and people seem to like it. Cherie puts together this trifle, a huge bowl of fruit and whipped cream.”

Like Kramer, many women bring their daughters and granddaughters. “I have three daughters and three granddaughters. Sharing these traditions with your children is really important,” she said.

Apparently, more women are coming to that conclusion. Each year the seders bring out younger women, more Russian émigrés, girls from the local Jewish day schools and even second-generation attendees: young women who first came to the seder with their own mothers years ago.

What does Half love most about the seder experience? “The women’s voices,” she said. “The accents, revealing their heroines, the women in their lives who inspired them. They feel invigorated and positive.”

That and the chance to bust a move, Pesach style.

“Each year at the end we all get up and dance,” she added. “Nobody wants to leave.”

The Passover Women’s Seder takes place 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 5, in the social hall of Congregation Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills. Tickets: $10 by March 30, $15 at the door. For information and reservations, call Judy Sack at (408) 374-8331.

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