Pesach 2010 -- Leil HaSeder

A few months ago, when we spent Shabbat with my Rav (Rabbi), my Rav's wife (who is also a friend of mine) invited us to join them for Seder.  I was so honored by the invitation!  I would have loved to accept, but we usually spend Pesach with family (mine, when my parents are here, and Moshe's, when my parents are not here). 

This year was no exception.  We planned to be with Moshe's family. 

Usually, my sister is off doing her own thing for Pesach.  Our needs for Leil HaSeder (the evening of the Seder) are often quite different.  So, I was pleasantly surprised when my sister called to say that it's been a while since we last had Seder together, and she'd like to spend Leil HaSeder with us. 

When I called to see if my sister could join us with her friend (and former flat-mate), I learned that two extra guests was more than our hosting family could handle comfortably.   I totally understood.  Still, I really wanted to spend Pesach with my sister.

There was no way I could host, so I asked my sister which she preferred: hosting Seder or joining us at my Rav's.  After some consideration, my sister surprised me by agreeing to go to my Rav's home.

I called my friend to find out if her invitation was still open, and if she would be willing to host an additional two guests. I received such a warm response!  I was so excited (and curious!) about spending Pesach with their family!

We all had a wonderful time together.

There was singing, and stimulating discussions, and fun!  They sort of sped through the boring parts, which surprised me a bit, but I appreciated it.  I did not expect much singing (my Rav once made a comment that he does not like singing during davening. I LOVE singing during davening!), but they sang almost everything that we sing, so I was very pleased!  And, of course, everyone contributed to the discussions.  Our kids were a little quieter than usual (not necessarily a bad thing...), but even they asked questions and sang.  Moshe, of course, had several interesting side conversations with my Rav.  Overall, the pace of the Seder was "just right."

Their youngest child is the cutest, most adorable, little, five-year-old girl!  She held her "haggadah" (that she made) over her face while she belted out the "mah nishtanah" at the beginning of the Seder, and "echad mi yodeah," at the end. 

My eldest, and their youngest, formed a very special connection.  It was very sweet and, apparently unusual for their daughter.  All my kids have "the magic," when it comes to little kids. 

My youngest spent most of her time with their daughter, who is just half a year younger.  My son also found "his place," sometimes with the older boys, and sometimes with his sisters and the younger kids.

Moshe found MANY interesting books to peruse and discuss.  And I had a wonderful time hanging out with my friend.

I am so glad to have had this opportunity.  I love spending Pesach with our families, and I missed spending that time together with Moshe's family. Yet, I am grateful to have shared Leil HaSeder with my sister.  Moreover, it was a real treat to celebrate Pesach with my Rav and his family.



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Pesach Seder 5769 (2009)

Not only did we pack everything we needed to leave our home for all seven days of Pesach, but we even managed to fit everything into our modest family car (five seater, hatchback). OK, it was a little squishy, but we made it! Hopefully, I'll find a better way to pack everything for the longer car trips. (We really need a roof rack!)

This is one of my very useful, but unmarketable skills. I am great at packing things into small spaces. I learned to pack a trunk from my dad, who is the only person I know who can do a better job than I.

When we arrived at my in-laws, everything was beautifully set out.

Moshe's parents asked him to lead the Seder. Moshe managed to keep everyone engaged, despite the fact that we were all really tired both from preparations as well as from getting up at 5:00 in the morning for Birkat HaChammah.

This year's Seder was much more streamlined than last year's. But it was still a dynamic Seder with participation from all involved.

We said maggid (the telling of the story) in the living room, which was very comfortable. I drifted off for a few moments, waking to discover that I missed an entire section of maggid!

Had everyone not been so tired, I would have requested that we sing the songs again. But I could not ask that this year.

Later, when we moved back to the dining room, I had to take a second break. I went to lie down on the couch, and participated from there (when I was not dozing off).

After dinner, my son and eldest daughter finished up on their own and went to bed. Only my youngest daughter stayed up and sang with me to the end.

This year, when we finished Seder, I did not insist on singing all of the fun songs at the end.

I was just as happy as everyone else to go straight to bed.

I left Moshe to help his mom tidy up and I crashed!



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

You Never Know....

Anyone live in Milwaukee, or know someone who lives in Milwaukee?

I am looking for a family to host a friend of mine (not Jewish) for Seder.

She lives in Wisconsin, not far from Milwaukee.

If you know someone or have any ideas, please email me at coffeeandchemo@gmail.com



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Seder -- An All-Time Record!

I meant to post this on Pesach, but I never got around to it... until now.

So, just think of this as a "time-warp"... :-)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

We didn't mean to start so late.

We came back from shul, threw a few things into a soup pot, and set the table. Everything else was prepared in advance.

But there we were, starting Seder after 10:00 pm.

We tried to stay focussed. We really did. But everyone had what to say...

At around 1:30, my mother mentioned something about the seudah (festive meal)....

Y, my eldest, quipped: "The food is not important!"

My other kids all agreed.

(Have I mentioned how lucky I am to have the greatest kids in the world?!)

We went on.... focussed, but not in a rush.

Sometimes we listened quietly to Moshe's explanations. Other times we were all clamoring to be heard.

It was fun.

It was dynamic.

We said maggid in the living room, all sprawled out on chairs and couches, and none of us fell asleep! (well, my parents might have dozed off here and there, but not for long...)

At one point, MD said we should take a long time, so that we would finish at sunrise, so we could say Sh'ma (morning prayers), like the tana'im (Rabbis). We laughed and firmly declared that "We are not going to talk all night!" (little did we know....)

At almost 3:00 am, we finally reached the end of maggid, and read "B'chol Dor VaDor..." (In every generation, each person is obligated to see himself as if he left Egypt). At that point, the kids jumped up to present their play: "The M****** Family Leaves Egypt".

(I was notified in advance that the kids were going to make fun of our family....)

The play opened with Y (clearly playing me) sitting and staring at a (virtual) computer. She is "reading" and "typing", occasionally laughing, and oblivious to what is going on around her. MD and A, playing themselves, are trying to get "my" attention. "We are hungry," they say repeatedly, "What's for dinner?" Their voices grow louder and louder. Y finally notices them and says "There is food in the sink... no, the television... no, the refrigerator..." The kids finally find the food and sit down to eat....

Then, "Moshe" (played by Y) comes home and whisks the kids off to bed. As he says the Sh'ma with them, MD keeps spacing out. "Moshe" repeatedly snaps his fingers in MD's face, to keep him focussed. Then, as "Moshe" is singing the kids to sleep, it is "Moshe" who keeps dozing off in the middle, and the kids who have to wake him up to keep singing.

When the kids are asleep, Moshe tells RivkA that "Moshe (Moses) has been talking to Par'oh (Pharaoh) again.... We are leaving Egypt tomorrow."

RivkA jumps up, and exclaims hysterically "What?! We have to pack!"

In the morning, it is difficult to wake MD up. Then, the children are fighting to get in the shower. "A, hurry up already!!" "Y, are you ready yet???"

Then we see Y struggling to decide what to wear... She has many clothes but does not like any of them. "I have nothing to wear!" She shouts in desperation.

Finally, we see the family with knapsacks on their back.

"What do you have in your bag?" They ask each other. Moshe pulls out a bottle of coke.... another bottle of coke.... the remote control for the air conditioner.... and another bottle of coke."

(the real Moshe is laughing so hard, his eyes are tearing...)

Then we see the family trudging, exhausted, pushing themselves forward.... out of the kitchen.

They open the front door, see all their friends, and, with a sudden burst of energy, run to catch up....

THE END.

We begin singing Hallel.... We eat.... We go back to the living room....

I start to doze off towards the end (or maybe it was in the middle) of benching. Moshe wakes me up and says "We are finishing Hallel, if you want to sing, now's the time."

I semi-sit up and start singing. Y & A are drifting off on the other couch. MD is next to me and singing along. The more I sing, the more I wake up. By the end of Hallel, I am on a roll! We zip through the end of the Seder and I am ready for more. So we sing all the songs at the end as well.

We finish at.... (drumroll, please)..... 5:30 in the morning.

The sky was already light!

All joking aside, I asked Moshe if he wanted to daven "Neitz" (pray at sunrise).

He looked at me as if I had fallen out of the sky. "I just want to go to bed," he said.

We all stumbled into bed.

As I was drifting off to sleep, Moshe whispered, "You know, I was joking about singing Hallel. I never expected you to actually wake up and start singing!"


Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA