Hakol - Passover 2023

APRIL 2023 | NISSAN/IYAR 5783

A PASSOVER MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Next year in Jerusalem?

By Robert Wax President

I have fond childhood memories of Passover in the Lehigh Valley. The stark contrast between the party atmosphere of Purim and the seriousness of Passover was always palpable. A few weeks after the carnival at the Jewish Community Center concluded, we were handed a feather and a candle at the Jewish Day School so we could search for any chametz (leaven or leavened food) that remained in our home.

I recall feeling a tremendous sense of duty when equipped with these tools.

Of course, the most fundamental part of the holiday was — and continues to be — telling the Passover story at the seder. As a child, our family seders felt long and detailed. My father would read portions of the Haggadah with tremendous importance, and he would carefully explain the elements of the seder plate. There were plenty of fun moments, too, including the search for the afikomen (and the intense negotiations my father would hold to purchase this piece of matzah from the lucky child who discovered it so we could finally begin dessert), singing “Who Knows One?” and “Dayenu,” and finishing the night with macaroons

and other sweets.

I would repeat “L’Shana Haba’ah B’Yerushalayim” at the end of the seder, but I would never really consider spending Passover the next year in Jerusalem or anyplace else. Why would I want to leave Allentown? As a child growing up here in the 1970s and 1980s, I cherished our vibrant and safe Jewish community. The Morning Call openly covered our community events, including the time the local running legend Dr. Karl Glassman carried a Chanukah torch from Israel to greet cheering Sunday school kids at Keneseth Israel. I felt great pride wearing my JCC uniform while playing sports against teams from across the Lehigh Valley. When it came time to talk about Passover in Jerusalem next year, I was completely content in our cozy community.

Despite my sense of safety, I vividly remember Jeanette Eichenwald, our community’s legendary educator, questioning our Hebrew high school class on whether our security in the United States would continue in perpetuity. She highlighted other communities where Jews once felt comfortable but now lacked a Jewish community. Her point was clear: we needed to appreciate the religious freedoms

we were experiencing in this country and recognize the importance of having a strong Jewish homeland to ensure the same.

I suspect our Passover seder of 2023 will include some troubling topics. Yes, we will repeat the Passover story, and we will work our way through the Haggadah.

However, there will surely be discussions about the National Day of Hate, which thankfully passed without incident. Someone will ask about the white supremacists who caused a ruckus at Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem this past December.

We will acknowledge the unfortunate need for security

during events at our local Jewish institutions. We will likely recognize the extremes of both political parties and the dangers they create for Jews in America. My mother will express her frustrations about members of our media who attack Israel unfairly time and time again. Like the Jews of Egypt, whom we will read about, it may seem Dr. Karl Glassman carrying a torch from Israel to Congregation Keneseth as though we are living as Israel in Allentown for Chanukah. (As strangers in a strange land. printed in the Keneseth Israel 100th So, is it time to pack up Anniversary Edition. Reprinted here and move to Jerusalem?

Absolutely not. Despite these courtesy of KI) issues, our community is still Live in the Lehigh Valley comedy night on May 4, or an amazing place to live and to attend the Jewish Federaraise a Jewish family. Did tion Women’s Philanthropy you see WFMZ’s exciting Chai Club Dinner on May 16 coverage of our community for donors who contribute Purim carnival? How about at least $180. If you visit our the pictures on Facebook community calendar on the of the standing-roomFederation website, you will only Purim event hosted by Chabad of the Lehigh Valley? see community talks, mitzvah projects, mahjong games, Have you visited the JCC or adult learning opportunities, the JDS recently to see the hikes, picnics and so much amazing improvements at more. both buildings? When the So, as a community, let’s untoward event occurred at get back out there, let’s eat Christkindlmarkt, did you and talk and laugh together, notice how quickly the leadand let’s continue to cherish ers at ArtsQuest — and all this amazing Jewish comour local officials — stood to munity of the Lehigh Valley. support us?

You better move quickly or It remains a wonderful I’ll beat you to the afikomen!

Robert Wax and Adam Teitelbaum, as- time to be a proud Jew in Frankly, I am so excited the Lehigh Valley. We have sociate vice president of public affairs about our community that tremendous institutions, of the Jewish Federations of North I think it’s time for another America and executive director of the engaged leaders and incredtorch run. Dr. Glassman, do Israel Action Network at the JFLV and ible events. In fact, I urge you accept my challenge?

ADL Summit to Combat Antisemtitism. you to join me at the Modi

The Lehigh Valley Jewish Clergy Group present the

25th Annual Community Passover Seders

2 APRIL 2023 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | PASSOVER 5783

PA and 3 other states have primaries Book review: ‘An Invitation to Passover’ that fall on 1st day of Passover 2024 Jewish Telegraphic Agency

By Sean Boyle Special to Hakol

The first children’s picture book collaboration between renowned rabbi authors Kerry Olitzky and Deborah Bodin Cohen, “An Invitation to Passover,’’ illustrated by Mariia Kolker, introduces us to Hannah and her diverse group of friends, each of whom each brings a unique aspect of their cultures to Hannah’s family’s Passover seder.

Hannah’s extended family is unable to come this year for the Passover seder, and instead of having a small seder, Hannah decides to invite her friends.

She wants to make them excited about coming while explaining a little about what Passover represents. So her invitations address different themes central to Passover.

In turn, each of her friends brings an item from their own culture (India, Korea, Russia and the U.S. South) that relate to the Passover themes of freedom, hope and thanks. Hannah then perfectly weaves her friends’ gifts into her Passover story to demonstrate the universal connections between all cultures and nationalities.

The book includes a glossary as well as “The Story of Passover” with expansions on the themes Hannah uses in her invitations. The pub-

lisher, Kalaniot Books, offers a free seven-page activity guide to go with the book. It includes recipes and instructions on how to replicate and include in your home seder the gifts brought by Hannah’s friends.

Highly recommended for ages 4-120 and perfect as a gift for non-Jewish children to learn about shared values and experiences.

“An Invitation to Passover,” by Rabbis Kerry Olitzky and Deborah Bodin, illustrated by Mariia Kolker, Kalaniot Books, 32 pages, 2023.

Sean Boyle is Congregation Keneseth Israel’s librarian and serves as vice president, president-elect, of the Association of Jewish Libraries.

A few fun food facts Adapted from a Jewish Telegraphic Agency article

Passover, like most Jewish holidays, has much to do with food. But the combination of lengthy celebrations and traditional dietary restrictions yields some unusual results.

1. You will gain or lose 10 pounds With the requirement to stay off leavened food items, bread is out, and matzah — the a cracker-like, brittle square — is in. And you either love matzah or can’t imagine putting in your mouth. If you belong in the former camp, you will happily eat two or three matzot for breakfast every day of the week and add bulk up.

If you’re in the latter camp, you’ll remain hungry and maybe shed some weight.

2. Judaism’s greatest contribution to humankind Forget philosophy and universal values. Matzah balls are Judaism’s great contribution. They can range from incredibly light and fluffy to dense and comforting. Usually, two or three are served with soup. Consider

accepting no fewer than four.

3. Israel’s egg nightmare Since so many people rely on eggs during Passover to substitute for leavening products in baked goods, there’s always the concern that supermarkets will run out. A few years ago that happened, and Israelis started trading eggs like gold. These days, of course,

Four states have presidential primaries that fall on the first day of Passover next year and legislation has been introduced in at least Pennsylvania and Maryland to change the date.

The four states listed on the website of the National Conference of State Legislatures as having presidential primaries on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 are Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Rhode Island. Passover starts the previous evening, and traditional Jewish law, or halacha, prohibits writing, driving or the use of electricity on the holiday, which would make voting impossible for many observant Jews.

The Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C., are home to a substantial and close-knit Jewish community, including Orthodox enclaves. Baltimore also has a large Jewish community with a substantial Orthodox component. Ronald Halber, the director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, said on Wednesday that his organization was already coordinating with the Maryland legislature to change the date.

“The JCRC is working with both House and Senate leaders to pass legislation that will correct this unfortunate conflict and we are confident that the matter will

be resolved without any issues,” he said.

The leaders of both chambers in Maryland’s state legislature, both Democrats, said last month they were willing to change the date, and an Orthodox Jewish Democratic lawmaker, Dalya Attar, has initiated legislation to do so.

Attar told Jewish Insider that she appreciated Maryland’s flexible voting system, which allows for early voting, but that it is not sufficient to compensate for holding a primary on the first day of Passover.

“Having the primary is great and having those early voting dates are very helpful,” she said. “But the reality is, many people go out and vote on Election Day.” Robin Schatz, the director of government affairs at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, said she was looking into the matter. “We are working to see if it can

get moved,” she told JTA. There are substantial Jewish populations, including Orthodox enclaves, in Pittsburgh and in Philadelphia and its suburbs. The state’s governor, Democrat Josh Shapiro, is an observant Jew. Pennsylvania lawmakers have separately considered moving the primary up by a month, to March 19, to make the state more relevant to primary season. That initiative has nothing to do with Passover, Schatz said. As the schedule currently stands, the primary and caucus season will begin when Iowa holds its Republican presidential caucuses in late January. South Carolina will hold the first Democratic nominating contest in early February.

Jewish officials in Rhode Island said they were reaching out to the Secretary of State to discuss options. Jewish officials in Delaware were unavailable for comment.

other peoples can relate.

4. Kosher-for-Passover bread Usually prepared to feed children who refuse to eat matzah, this alternative always seems to have an odd and taste and texture. There are countless recipes promising you won’t notice the difference, but you will. And you’ll be horribly disappointed.

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SHLICHA’S VIEW WITH EYNAV DAHAN

Time for my favorite things: Family, food, unity, nature

Passover always feels like a new start to me. Welcoming the spring after the (not so cold in Israel, but very cold here) winter, seeing nature starting to bloom and seeing my city, Karmiel, filled with

kalaniyot (anemone flowers), the symbol of the city.

My favorite thing about Passover is the way my heritage comes together on one table of food. My mother is an Ashkenazi Jew. Her parents came from Romania and have all their traditional Ashkenazi Romanian food for the holiday. My father is a Mizrachi Jew whose parents came from Morocco and Syria, with all their food and traditions. So our Passover table is a mix of dishes from Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. We start with matzo ball soup, continue

with stuffed artichokes in a Moroccan sauce and end with nishah, a Syrian dessert.

At the end of the holiday, we have a big mimuna in our house and everyone is invited. Mimuna is a Moroccan tradition at the end of Passover. After not eating chametz (leaven), the mimuna is like a celebration of it. We eat a lot of traditional desserts, and they all have flour in them. And the sweeter the better.

This tradition started in Morocco as a symbol of the unity between the Muslims and the Jewish people. The

door of every Jewish home was open and everyone could come in. The Muslim neighbors would bring flour so the Jewish people, who didn’t have chametz in their houses, could make the food. Together they would celebrate and eat all night long.

Going back to Israel at this time of year is a combination of all my favorite things: fam-

Passover. Beginning in February, students engaged in an intensive Haggadah workshop to hone their seder skills. From kadesh and avadim hayinu to dayenu and chad gadya, and just about everything in between, the students were becoming Haggadah experts.

The lower school students were also busy making Passover projects, singing songs and listening to stories.

Two very different, special events will take place the week before Passover. Pre-K and 1st

grade students will take part in a Passover-themed fair, with a variety of interactive stations that will reinforce all the holiday learning that they have been doing with their teachers. Students will stack sugar cubes to build Egyptian pyramids, race baby Moses across the Nile by blowing through a straw, clean a play kitchen until it is chametz (leaven) free, make matzah out of Crayola Model Magic and participate in other hands-on learning experiences that will take them through family holiday traditions and the steps of the seder.

A few days later, 2nd graders and up will come to-

gether for the annual school seder. Their weeks of preparation will pay off.

Every class will be responsible for a section of the seder, and specific readings will be recited by middle school students, who will all be coleaders of the event. All the ceremonial foods will be enjoyed, along with a delicious holiday meal prepared

by Sunshine Café. After the prayers, blessings, stories, songs and dining are complete, the event will end with the traditional JDS custom of singing and dancing to the video of the Babaganewz rendition of “Echad Mi Yodea,” illustrated by Aaron Schachter. It is impossible

ily, food, unity and nature.

Jewish Day School students prepare for Passover

By Joanna Powers Jewish Day School Director of Hebrew and Judaics

Even before the first hamantaschen was tasted, Jewish Day School students were already preparing for

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Elijah and the longing for redemption

Rabbi Moshe Re’em Temple Beth El

One of the more memorable parts of the seder, but perhaps not so well understood, is the role of Elijah the prophet. In his excellent book “Becoming Elijah: Prophet of Transformation,” part of Yale University Press’ Jewish Lives Series, Daniel Matt devotes a chapter to the role of Elijah in Jewish ritual, including the Passover seder. While the historical origins of how Elijah became a part of the seder is clouded in mystery, perhaps as much mystery as the character himself, Matt uncovers some of the later rabbinic, kabbalistic and Hassidic explanations of Elijah’s role.

The most obvious and common link to Passover is the theme of redemption.

If the seder represents a reenactment of past liberation in the present (i.e., bechol dor vador chayav adam lirot et atzmo keilu hu yatza mi-mitzraim — “In

every generation a person is obligated to see themself as if they were redeemed from Egypt”), Elijah is the harbinger of future redemption.

A late midrash states: “On that very night, the Messiah and Elijah will appear. … The blessed Holy One said, ‘… On the day when I wrought salvation for you (on Passover in Egypt) — know that on that very night I will redeem you’” (Shemot Rabba 18:12). The earliest-k nown author to mention the Cup of Elijah is Zelikman Binga (15th century Talmudist, Ashkenaz): “I have seen some people on the night of Passover who pour a special cup and place it on the table, saying that this is the cup for Elijah the prophet — and I don’t know the reason. But it seems that the reason derives from this: If Elijah the prophet comes on the night of Passover, as we hope and expect, he too will need a cup, for even a poor person among Israel must drink no less than four cups. And if the cup is not ready, we would have to prepare it for him, which might delay the seder.”

One is struck by this somewhat literal, legalistic explanation. When Elijah returns does he return as a ghost or spirit? Is he invisible? Perhaps he appears in human form. After all, the Bible never states that Elijah dies. He simply and suddenly is swooped up to heaven in a chariot of fire and horses of fire and ascends in a

whirlwind. If he is to return in human form — in the mind of a legal positivist, halachic authority, of course, he would need to fulfill the obligation of drinking four cups of wine! But there is something quite disturbing about this explanation. First, it is disturbing in its literalism. Second, it seems quite illogical. If Elijah indeed is the one who heralds the coming of the Messiah, why would there be a need to fulfill any Jewish legal obligation at that point? In an age of final redemption, there would be no need for any ritual!

Of the many explanations that Matt offers in his book, the one I prefer most is the one offered by the Kotzker Rebbe (Menachem Mendel, 19th-century Poland).

The story is told of how the students of the Kotzker anticipated the arrival of Elijah. “On the first night of the festival, the room was full, the atmosphere charged, with Elijah’s cup waiting on the table. The seder proceeded, and finally the door was opened. What happened next left the disciples astonished. Nothing; no one appeared. Crushed, they turned to their Rebbe, whose face was beaming.

Seeing their distress, he asked, ‘What’s troubling you?’ They told him. ‘Fools!’ he thundered. ‘Do you think Elijah the prophet enters through the door? He enters through the heart.’”

I love this story for sev-

eral reasons. First, it takes us out of the realm of literal, simplistic explanations and anticipations.

Elijah is not some sort of Santa Claus magically entering through the doorway instead of the chimney. Elijah’s arrival is contingent on our opening our hearts. This year as we celebrate Passover, there is so much turmoil in the world, especially in Israel. We hope and pray for peace in Israel and for an opening of the hearts and the minds of those in positions of power. Without that there can be no hope for redemption.

Chag sameach!

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PASSOVER 5783 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | APRIL 2023 5

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Across 1. Airy lobbies 6. Dorm heads, for short 9. Israeli plaza 14. Beach Boy Wilson 15. Havdalah need 16. “Calendario” start 17. “Madam Secretary” actress Téa 18. NCAA basketball champs of 2000 19. “Path”, for HaShayara or HaAsara 20. Have some matzah 21. *First name behind “Dr. Strangelove” and “Sparta-

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cus” 24. Half an African fly?

25. Audiophile’s acquisition 27. Masted ship 29. Banks of “America’s Got Talent” 30. Menachem’s predecessor 34. Crime-fighter Eliot 35. *Action required for building the Tabernacle 38. AKA name 41. The bane of many men 42. TV director Linka Glatter 46. *Bi-weekly Jewish ceremony 48. *It’s fine for groggers but

not for (kosher) shofars 50. “___ you with this...” (final thought worlds) 51. Take the offensive 52. Palindromic negative prefix 53. A Shtisel on “Shtisel” 57. Key chess piece, in Spain 58. Essential part of the Seder....or an alternative title to this puzzle 63. Otherworldly being 65. 1-1, e.g.

66. Ceremonial cutter 69. Transit option in D.C. or L.A. 70. Drink that’s chametz 71. Amazon option 72. Toys you can walk or swing 73. 42nd and Elm: abbr.

74. Instagram option

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38. Related 39. Eponymous Disney islander 40. Kind of politics 43. Locale for Kirk 44. Head hunters’ targets?

45. Disgusting, in kid-speak 47. Synonym for 40-Down 49. Concerning the congregation 54. Infinitesimal amounts 55. Made like Noah or Betzalel

56. Brady broke some of his major recrods 59. Avigdor Kahalani, e.g.

60. Son of Seth, in Genesis 61. “Safe!” crackers?

62. Study steadily, with “over” 63. Youngest of the fictional March sisters 64. Pride papa 67. One of the Big Four record companies, once 68. Place to eat grass

Uncle Michael, Elijah’s empty cup and other memories

By Shira Yacker Special to Hakol

Passover is my favorite chag (holiday) of the Jewish calendar. Celebrating Jewish freedom with my friends and family is an incredibly uplifting experience, and although creating the perfect seder is a tremendous amount of work, I look forward to it each year.

Last year, I wrote an article for Hakol focusing on the mitzvah of inviting strangers

into our homes to celebrate Pesach with them and to ensure that they have a positive experience and a deeper understanding of what Pesach is all about.

A couple of hard years The spring of 2020 was hard for everyone, but the hardest moment of that intense phase of the lockdown, the most difficult restriction for me, was that we were unable to gather together in one room to conduct our seders.

We did the best we could to make it work. Each family had a computer or iPad set up and we went live and tried to make our seder as normal as possible while all being in our own homes. Being together virtually was not the same, but we made it work and were still able to follow our traditions in the best way we

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Fast forward to spring of 2021. The adults were vaccinated but the children were not. We again did the best we could and had smaller-thanusual seders, which were still not the norm for our family.

Spring of 2022 was much better. People tested themselves and everyone was healthy, so we were back to our former selves.

The hospitality of Uncle Michael But by the spring of 2022, we were missing our patriarch, my uncle Michael, who had passed away in May 2020. I know that he is smiling down on us for picking ourselves right up and following the traditions that he passed down to his entire mishpacha. Uncle Michael always made sure that our seders were fun and educational for all who attended. We often have people who aren’t Jewish join our seders, and we were taught by Uncle Michael to include them and make certain that they understood the meaning behind the story of the Exodus and how it is a symbol for everything we do as a Jewish people.

Drinking Elijah’s wine and other traditions Each of our families has its own traditions, and I set out to discover some of them in preparation for writing this article. In my family, there are several that stand out. One is that every person who attends our seder is asked to say the kiddush for the first cup of wine. As people moved away and couldn’t always attend our family seders in person, we would call them and put them on speaker phone, and now FaceTime, to include them in this tradition. The

first kiddush could literally take our family 30 minutes to get through. And it is worth every bit of that time.

Other traditions include the annual bet. My brother stated that he always remembers my uncle telling him that he would get extra cash if he could eat the bitter herbs root from the seder plate in one bite. I don’t think he ever even tried.

We also always made sure that the youngest attendant at the seder was the one who opened the door for Elijah, and someone would volunteer to drink all of Elijah’s wine so the young children would believe that Elijah drank the wine from his cup.

From word games to song parodies, from masks to puppets, and from having “Prince of Egypt” on in the family room for the young children to go to if they got too bored, we have done it all.

One year the seder was on a Saturday night and everyone went to the deck to do a Havdalah service, including the dog. She wanted to be a part of that service so badly that she ended up getting wax from the Havdalah candle all over her back. She didn’t seem to mind.

Looking forward Every year we try to add something new. This year my aunt bought me a Miriam’s Cup to use at my seders, and I am very excited to add that piece to our repertoire.

This year will also be

the first time since COVID-19 that my one brother and his family are able to come in and join us. It is one of the few times per year that my two brothers and I are together in one place. We look forward to Passover all year and start planning for it in January. I am so grateful to be a part of a family that goes out of the way to make sure that Passover is memorable each and every year.

I would love to hear how all of you celebrate so I can include your traditions in an article next year. Feel free to email me at ssyacker@gmail. com.

Shira Yacker of Palmer Township teaches special education in the Pen Argyl School District and has taught at Hebrew school in the Philadelphia area and in Easton for about 25 years.

From the board and staff of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley Robert Wax PRESIDENT

Jeri Zimmerman EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

PASSOVER 5783 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | APRIL 2023 7

Chag sameach

Happy Passover

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8 APRIL 2023 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | PASSOVER 5783