A Passover Tale

Isabel Gets an 'A' for Seder Story-

By DR. MAE ANNA CHESERTON-MANGLE
Director, Religious Press Committee

Isabel looked very discour-
aged.
"What's the matter, dear?"
asked her mother.
"Oh, it's that awful English
Bourse. Miss Simmons has a
perfect mania for compositions.
Now we're to write about some
recent experience that taught
us something new. And I never
have- any interesting experi-
ences," added Isabel petulantly.
"You certainly have a short
memory," said Mrs. Winslow.
"Only a few weeks ago you
eouldn't stop talking about that
wonderful evening at Sally's
house. Have you forgotten about
R already?"
"Do you mean my dinner there
on the first night of Passover?"
"Yes," said Isabel's mother. It
seems that's made to order."

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"Oh, you're an angel, mother
It's perfect."
A few hours later, Isabel
burst into her mother's room.
"Here it is, mother. Gee!
Wouldn't it be wonderful if Miss
Simmons read it to the class as
the best one?"
"She's never done that with
one of yours, has she, Isabel?
Let's hear how it sounds."
"It was the first night of the
Jewish Holy day called Pass-
over," Isabel began, "and my
friend Sally Gold invited me to
a special dinner, called Seder.
Sally's father told me that Se-
der means "order." That is the
name given to the evening meal,
because everything happens in
a certain order. The order of the
meal, together with the history
of Passover, is set down in a
book called the Haggadah,
which means a story.
"When we went into the din-
ing room, there was a beautiful
table, with lovely spring flow-
ers in the center and silver
candlesticks on either side. But
the most interesting thing was
the Passover platter at the head
of the table. Sally whispered to
me what each thing on it meant.
"There was roasted shank-
bone of lamb which stood for
the paschal lamb. sacred to the
Egyptians, which Moses told the
Jews to destroy the night be-
fore they escaped from Egypt
back in biblical times. Then
there was a roasted egg—a sym-
bol of sacrifice on all Jewish
holidays. There were also some
bitter herbs and green parsley.
Finally, there was something
brown, called "haroses"—made
of apples, nuts, wine, sugar and
cinnamon. That represented the
bricks which the Egyptian
Pharoahs forced the Jews to
make. On another platter were

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three crackers called "matzos" I remember the message of Pass-
THE JEWISH NEWS-27
folded into a napkin. Everyone over — a festival of freedom.
Friday, March 27, 1953
"That dinner was one of my
had a glass of wine, and there
most exciting experiences. I school. "What do you think,
was an extra glass in the mi
dle of the table. Instead of the learned a great deal about the mother? Miss Siinmons read my
regular dining chairs there were Jewish religion—and I've learned story in class today — not only
cushioned arm chairs. As I even more from reading my that, but she asked me to read
found out later, that meant copy of the Haggadah. It made it in assembly on Friday!"
me realize, too, how much alike
something, too.
"Mr. Gold started by giving all human beings really are.
Six large rooms lying vacant?
us each a copy of the Hagga- For instance, when Americans Somebody's looking for them!
celebrate
Thanksgiving,
all
of
dah. He recited the blessing,
Call WO. 5-1155 to place your
called the Kiddush, while every- us — Jewish, Catholic and Pro- want ad.
one drank wine. Then Sally's testant—are giving thanks that
little brother, Jonathan, brought we live in a free land. Our Pil-
a small silver basin and pitcher grim ancestors came here to es-
to his father. Mr. Gold poured cape the same kind of religious
the water over his hands and persecution which the Jews suf-
dried them on a linen towel. fered in Egypt."
Isabel looked at her mother.
Next, he took a piece of the
parsley and dipped it in salt- "Do you like it? Do you think
water. All of us did the same Miss Simmons will like it?"
"I think it's wonderful, Isa-
and the farriily recited a prayer
first in Hebrew, and then in bel. Even if Miss Simmons does-
English. Then something inter- n't read it in the class, I'm sure
esting happened. Mr. Gold took she'll be pleased."
But txe next day, Mrs. Win-
the middle matzo from the
napkin, broke it in half, put one slow received a happy surprise
half back on the plate and hid when Isabel came home from
the other. Sally hurriedly ex-
plained that the hidden part
was the Afikomon or dessert.
and. other Dairy. Products
The child who manages to find
it at the end of the meal gets
a present f(Er returning it, be-.
cause the Seder can't be ended
Delivered to your door, or
until everybody eats a piece of
the Afikomon.
at your favorite store
"In the next part of the cere-
mony, the youngest child over
six years who was Jonathan,
asked Mr. Gold four questions.
His answers told the story of
WAlnut 1-9000
the Seder:
" 'We eat matzoh tonight be-
cause our forefathers left Egypt
in a great rush. They carried
with them some unbaked dough
and the hot sun baked it into a
1666! 6
flat, unleavened bread, called
matzo. That is why we eat
1111 -11- 1
only matzoh on Passover.
" 'We eat bitter herbs because
our forefathers were slaves in
Egypt and their lives were bit-
ter. We dip the parsley in salt
water because it reminds us of
the green that comes to life in
the springtime. And we dip the
bitter herbs in the sweet haro-
ses as a sign of hope—the hope
of freedom which our forefath-
ers never lost'.
" 'Finally, we recline at the
table because, in olden times,
only free men sat that way."
That's the reason for the up-
holstered chairs.
"Then Mr. Gold read the story
of the Exodus from Egypt—how
the Egyptians enslaved the Jews
and Moses freed them.
This Offer Limited to the
"Suddenly I felt something
being slipped into my hands.
Sally had given me the Afiko-
PASSOVER HOLIDAY ONLY: ACT NOW
mon. I started to say something
but she shook her head.
"Then Jonathan got up and
ran to the front door. I hadn't
heard the bell ring and when he
3 Blocks South
opened it, I didn't see anyone
Of Grand River
there. Mr. Gold explained what
Jonathan was doing. He said
the extra wine glass on the
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table was called the Cup of Eli-
jah. There is a legend that this
ancient prophet visits every
Jewish home on Seder night
and drinks the wine poured for
him in his special cup. So Jon-
athan had opened the door for
Elij ah.
"After we finished the songs
in the Haggadah, Sally poked
me and whispered that I should
say what I wanted for return-
ing the Afikomon. I thought a
minute and then I said to Mr.
Gold, "I'd like to keep my copy
of the Haggadah." Mr. Gold
extends sincere greetings
said that was fair enough and
looked very pleased. When I
thanked him for the Seder, he
and best wishes for the
said he hoped I would always

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