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Passover

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Off Topic
Posted on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 04:46:02 PM EST
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HuffPo has a nice story about 5 interesting Passover traditions from around the world.

President Obama and family will be holding the first seder ever celebrated at the White House.

Best wishes to all observing.

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    • Passover | 36 comments (36 topical)
    40 minutes from now (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by andgarden on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 04:53:20 PM EST
    with my grandparents. They could be Morty and Helen Seinfeld. . .

    An hour from now (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by Cream City on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 05:09:48 PM EST
    with friends, some we see fairly often but many we have not seen for some time.  Looking forward to gathering around the seder table, as ever -- but not to my terrible reading of Hebrew when it comes my turn.  I think I provide the comic relief.

    Parent
    Be A Radical (none / 0) (#7)
    by squeaky on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 05:10:59 PM EST
    Read it in english.

    Parent
    Ha! (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Cream City on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 05:22:09 PM EST
    My laff for the day; thanks.  Maybe I will plead for permission . . . plead in English, of course.:-)

    But it's so embarrassing when the seder table also is ringed by youngsters who do so well, having been raised with Hebrew prayers, while I still am at the stage of a toddler. . . .

    Parent

    Of course, if I was a good person (none / 0) (#12)
    by Cream City on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 05:30:26 PM EST
    and a morning person, I would have gotten up before dawn to join in the dancing, not far from me, at my city's celebration of Birkat Hachamah, the Blessing of the Sun.  Only once every 28 years, and I missed it.  (There are beautiful photos in my paper online of the joyous celebration, just to remind me of what I missed.)

    But I'm a night person.  Gimme seder at sundown!

    Parent

    B'Vakasha (none / 0) (#13)
    by squeaky on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 05:30:27 PM EST
    Ani, rotzeh midaber IN English.

    Todah Rabah.

    Parent

    Okay, I translated that (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by Cream City on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 06:12:14 PM EST
    and am practicing it in Hebrew -- because just that alone ought to make it clear to the gathering why THEY want me to resort to English for the rest of the night.  The chosen people have suffered enough, ain'a, as we say here.

    So todah to you, too. . . .

    Btw, returning the laff:  I recently finished the marvelously fun (and thought-provoking) book by A.J. Jacobs, The Year of Living Biblically, and I found out the nickname for the seder-celebrators of this wintry northland:  I'm heading out now to gather with "the frozen chosen."

    Parent

    Enjoy! (none / 0) (#17)
    by squeaky on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 06:19:29 PM EST
    I always thought it silly to speak in a language that no one understands. Although, I am seriously rusty, but was always intrigued by hebrew. I love the sound and the fact that the letters are also numbers.

    Not a tough language once you get past the letters. I think that it was simplified from Aramaic.  


    Parent

    It's my accent (none / 0) (#18)
    by Cream City on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 06:25:21 PM EST
    too, I think.  I always seem to do Seder with a lot of New Yorkers lost here in the heartland.  Imagine Palin -- whose accent I partly share, as she and my mother shared a birthplace -- trying to pronounce Hebrew.  (Noooo, don't!)

    But todah for the mitzvah.  I can be grateful that it all has been, uh, simplified from the Aramaic!

    Parent

    Love the sound? (none / 0) (#19)
    by NYShooter on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 06:30:34 PM EST
    Like sandpapering your larynx & coughing at the same time

    Mom made me have a bar mitzvah.........   

    And I'm not even Jewish.....lol


    Parent

    Oh Well (none / 0) (#20)
    by squeaky on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 06:34:53 PM EST
    Maybe it is nostalgia. All my grandparents spoke only Russian, Yiddish and Hebrew. As a result I also love hearing Russian. Dutch, on the other hand I am not so fond of.

    Perhaps you are thinking more of yiddish, which shares a lot of the guttural, throat clearing sounds that the dutch language has.

    Parent

    I gladly, and humbly, (none / 0) (#23)
    by NYShooter on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 07:45:01 PM EST
    defer to you on the complicated topic at hand.

    As I'm sure you know, Europeans, by necessity, speak multiple languages. So, being world class, irreverent snarkballs, and growing up in post-war Austria, my brother and I had the greatest time arguing about which nationality, religion, and/or language was the nuttiest. (America & English won, hands down) Since my mother was a Russian Orthodox, anti-Semite, and my father was Jewish (don't ask) our schitsofrenic ways became irreversible.

    But anyone who discerns the different sounds between Yiddish & Hebrew has my undying respect.


    Parent

    Gosh (none / 0) (#25)
    by squeaky on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 08:10:29 PM EST
    I'll take any respect I can get, so thanks. Must be my musical ear (I am a trained musician), because Hebrew and Yiddish sound quite different to me. Granted Yiddish has a lot of Hebrew words but it is much more gargling and, throaty than Hebrew, imo.

    Sadly my parents who also spoke yiddish and russian, did not think it was good for upward mobility to teach me those languages. Something stuck though, at least the sounds. I learned hebrew at hebrew school. I was a terrible student as was the fashion, but somehow was able to speak fluently as a teen while visiting Israel. I do not remember too much, although I can still do the prayers by rote, even though I have not been religious since my bar mitzva ages ago.

    Parent

    Wow, me too... (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by NYShooter on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 08:41:39 PM EST
    The prayer "rote" part

    When we immigrated here in the early fifties, I spoke (as did most immigrants) Yiddish, German, Polish, my native Russian, and a smattering of English. My mother, transferring her rabid Russian nationalism to American, stated, "We are AMERRIKAHNS now!! Only English was to be permitted in our house from that day forward.

    Whoah, my neighbor just called and, not so gently, reminded me that the time had come to make my world famous potato latkes for her. (Water-boarding will NOT make me reveal my secret.)

    So, nice chatting with you, squeaks. Interesting stuff; maybe we can pick it up again sometime....

    later, or "ciao," as we cosmopolitans like to say.

    Parent

    I thought latkes were for (none / 0) (#28)
    by oculus on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 09:22:40 PM EST
    Hannukah.  But, what does a lapsed Lutheran know about such things?

    Parent
    Typically so (none / 0) (#31)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 10:47:52 PM EST
    I become honorarily Jewish every year and visit a friend who makes the best Latkes ever.

    Latkes are for Hannukah.  Latkes are forever ;-)!

    Parent

    I cherish the invites for latkes. (none / 0) (#32)
    by oculus on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 10:54:53 PM EST


    Parent
    2 out of 3, not bad (none / 0) (#36)
    by NYShooter on Thu Apr 09, 2009 at 03:52:36 AM EST
    1. latkes are for any day you want a bit of heaven.

    2. unless you visit me every year, you've tasted the 2'nd best latkes ever.

    3. Correct


    Parent
    Yiddish... (none / 0) (#39)
    by kdog on Thu Apr 09, 2009 at 09:08:23 AM EST
    I love how its become a part of NY slang.

    Parent
    frozen chosen???? (none / 0) (#38)
    by Katherine Graham Cracker on Thu Apr 09, 2009 at 06:49:56 AM EST
    " I'm heading out now to gather with "the frozen chosen."

    Spending Passover with Presbyterians?

    Parent

    You must be in Florida then (none / 0) (#2)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 04:53:58 PM EST


    Parent
    Nope (none / 0) (#3)
    by andgarden on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 04:55:51 PM EST
    They only go in Dec/Jan/Feb. . .

    Parent
    Ah (none / 0) (#4)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 05:00:03 PM EST
    Well best wishes to all your family.

    Parent
    A (none / 0) (#5)
    by andgarden on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 05:04:03 PM EST
    dank.

    Parent
    Chag Kasher v'Sameach (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by jbindc on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 05:14:47 PM EST
    (Ok, I confess, I had to look it up)

    Have a Blessed Day (5.00 / 3) (#9)
    by Jen M on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 05:15:15 PM EST
    All of you who celebrate Passover.

    And Easter too.

    Happy Passover! (5.00 / 3) (#14)
    by Steve M on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 05:32:40 PM EST
    A little Passover chuckle for all.

    Well that proves it (5.00 / 2) (#27)
    by ruffian on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 08:51:37 PM EST
    Only a secret Muslim would hold Seder at the White House.

    Peaceful evening to all.

    A blessed Passover, (5.00 / 3) (#30)
    by Anne on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 10:26:12 PM EST
    and an equally blessed Easter, to all who observe.

    We will be at my older daughter's for Easter.  She just moved into a house, and what with my living room being full of boxes from my aunt's house, and my brother's house being in a similar state, her house is the one that is in the best order for a holiday gathering.

    We will be having lamb and ham - lamb being the traditional dinner for our side of the family, and ham being the traditional one for my son-in-law's family.  Plus asparagus, carrots, a spinach and artichoke casserole, roasted potates with the lamb, and mashed potatoes with the ham.  Strawberry pie and cheesecake for dessert.  No one will go home hungry!

    Considering the hardship so many families are experiencing, prayers of thanks will be the order of the day; we are very lucky, not just because we are all working, but because we have strong connections and bonds and a deep love for each other that seems to have weathered the ups and downs and transcended the petty.

    Wishing all of you a happy holiday, rich in family and love.

    Our seder group, what stories (5.00 / 4) (#33)
    by Cream City on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 11:28:52 PM EST
    from friends not seen for too long, since my spouse retired . . . the first time, but now will not be able to retire again as planned.  So it goes, and we all counted our blessings tonight.

    We celebrated for some who also had retired, but whose pensions also have disappeared.  But they have found parttime jobs and are back to work to fend off foreclosure.  Lift a glass of wine!

    We celebrated for some who will be looking for work, because they still have a high school senior at home who was one of fewer than 50 in the country to get the top score on the ACT -- so is being accepted by all sorts of fancy schools.  But the college fund has disappeared.  However, financial aid offers cover half of the cost.  Lift a glass of wine!    

    And we celebrated for some whose son landed in Kuwait last week and cannot be in communication for another week -- until he gets to Baghdad for his second tour of duty.  We all prayed for him to be safely by the next Passover.  Then, we will lift a glass of wine again!

    What a world, turned upside down for everyone at the seder table, as we all compared notes on what we thought, just last Passover, life would be like by this year.  No next year in Jerusalem or anywhere else, with all travel plans cancelled.  But Elijah finds our doors, wherever we are.

     

    Parent

    Oh, and we commiserated for the one (5.00 / 3) (#34)
    by Cream City on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 11:29:46 PM EST
    at the table who has more work than she can handle.  She works for our state unemployment office. . . .

    Parent
    What to do with leftover matzoh? (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by Radiowalla on Thu Apr 09, 2009 at 12:24:07 AM EST
    In case you were wondering, check it out:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMSEFCQCKPo

    is the WH :hosting a (none / 0) (#11)
    by oculus on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 05:26:24 PM EST
    "Community". Seder?  I went to one awhile ago. We sang a song to the tune of "Clementine" and you could get your photo taken w/a cardboard Alan Cranston or--for a donation--the actual Sen. When he arrived from DC.

    Best wishes to those observing (none / 0) (#15)
    by aeguy on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 05:39:46 PM EST
    I'm not Jewish, but it looks fun!

    I had a seder (none / 0) (#21)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 06:53:22 PM EST
    at my house for a friend of mine who is Jewish. It was interesting and very, very long. Lots of reading and symbolism. I'm glad I did it.

    Enjoy your Passover ! (none / 0) (#22)
    by JRoy29 on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 07:08:12 PM EST


    Passover | 36 comments (36 topical)