THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, April 20, 1984 25 Christians, children, aged, recall Pesach story BY HEIDI PRESS Local News Editor Owing to the attendance of their spiritual leader at a Passover workshop for Christian clergy sponsored by the Jewish Community Council, Temple Emanu-El and its sisterhood, a black congregation in Ecorse will learn that the Jews also encountered slavery in their history. Father Charles Granger of the Church of the Res- surrection (Episcopal) was one of nearly 200 Christian clergymen, religious educa,tors and church lead- ers who participated in a model Seder at the Oak Park temple. Asked why he attended the workshop, Father Granger said, "I was in- terested in perhaps doing a Seder in our congregation for a Maundy Thursday (the Thursday prior to Easter) service." The spiritual leader of the 150-family congregation was asked what he hoped to take back to his congregation as a re- sult of attending the model Seder. "I hope to show the roots of the Christian Eucharist, which is our primary service on Sun- days, and to show the im- portance of the deliverance from slavery — how impor- tant it was in the regular religious life of the Jewish community." Father Granger added that relating that historical experience "could well be an emphasis in the black con- gregations that's not usu- ally a part of our services." Bruce Campbell of Christ Episcopal Church in Dear- born, where he is the associ- ate minister, said he attended the workshop be- cause his congregation is planning to hold a Seder. Asked what he planned to relate to his congregation about his experience at the model Seder, Campbell said "What I'm hoping for is that we could enjoy the Seder and participate in it as a remembrance of the Exodus — the original occasion on its own merits. I guess I see it as a kind of freedom meal." The model Seder, the third sponsored by the JCCouncil and the temple, was preceded by a tour of the temple for the guests. Temple President Stanley Finkelstein described the Aron Kodesh and opened a Sefer Torah for the visitors to peruse. During the course of the model Swier, Rabbi Lane Steinger, spiritual leader of the temple, explained the Passover traditions and ......... .................... Photos by Benyas-Kaufman Htllel Day School student Bruce Leuchter, 10, recites a portion of the Haggadah during the school's annual practice Seder. foods. Rabbi Steinger told the temple guests about the significance of the home in Jewish life. "The home . . . is a sanctuary in miniature, a small sacred place, and it is there that according to Jewish tradition the basic and most fundamental ob- servances transpire." He discussed the histori- cal origins of the Seder, ex- - plaining that many of the actions taken during the course of the Seder were "borrowed" from the Roman banquet of ancient times. For example, the act of re- clining during the meal was We teach kids they're doing mitzvot" by doing the Seder for the elderly. Berger, Eden Jaffa, Isa Schwarzberg, Ilana Green- baum, Bradley Dock, Bruce Leuchter, Lisa Berg and Mrs. Tzeel. Some of the reci- tations were done by whole classes. Residents of the seven Jewish Association for Re- tarded Citizens Haverim Homes were treated to a special Passover program sponsored by seventh grade students of the day school. Groups of five to six stu- dents in the bar and bat mitzvah class, along with a teacher or parent, visited each of the homes. The stu- dents spoke to the resident's about the holiday, played special "Passover Bingo" which the students had created, and participated in a discussion of their memories of Passover. The JARC program is a part of the social action component of the students curriculum. Amittai Rudaysky, assistant princi- pal, and Charlotte Abram- son, teacher, coordinated the social action cur- riculum. In preparation for the JARC program, Anita Mel- len and Gilda Jacobs of the JARC Speakers Bureau,- Father Charles Granger of the Episcopal Church of the spoke to the students about Resurrection gets his first taste of Passover during a mental retardation and the kiddush at the model Seder for the Christian clergy association's work. sponsored by the Jewish Community Council. The Jewish Federation Apts. dining room in Oak cause the seniors are each $2.50. They were Park was the scene of a spe- treated to Chanukah and asked to donate the money cial practice Seder Sunday Purim programs, but no one to purchase food for the hosted by the fifth grade was doing anything for Seder. students of Temple Beth Passover. "We teach the Mothers and residents El's religious school. kids they're doing mitzvot" joined together to set places Nearly 70 children came by doing the Seder for the and distribute the food. to share their knowledge elderly, she said. Each resident and child had about Passover and adopt- In preparation for the their own Seder plates. a-grandparent for the day. event, the temple created a .Leonard Milstone, Dr. Elaine Stern, one of the Haggadah and the children Ted Golden, Dr. Burton participating Beth El studied Passover traditions Fogelman and David teachers and founder of the in their classes. According Rosenman, whose children Seder for seniors program to teacher Joan Bloch, each participated in the Seder, five years ago, said that the child had to do a tzedakah also had leading roles in the program was started be- `-project which earned them prograin. taken _from Roman tradi- tion. "It was customary to eat while reclining at the Seder. Free independent persons ate on chaises while reclin- ing," he said. He explained the signifi- cance of candlelighting, the items of the Seder plate and the afikoman. Guests at the workshop were invited to read the English portions of the service. The ritual foods for the Seder were provided by the temple sisterhood. The Christian Communication Council helped mail invita- tions to the Seder guests who received a Haggadah and pamphlet explaining the Jewish holidays. At Hillel IYay School last week 170 children in grades two through four recited portions of the Haggadah at the school's annual practice Seder. Parents, grandparents, sisters and brothers came to watch as the students re- cited the Four Questions and brachot. Headmaster Rabbi Robert Abramson welcomed the guests at the model Seder, which was coordi- nated by Mrs. Adena Tzeel, who teaches grades three and five, and by Diane Grossman, music teacher. Seven-year-old Michelle Shepes welcomed the stu- dents and guests in Hebrew, while Irina Vaysfeld, spoke in English. A candlelight- ing preceded the cere- monies. According to Rabbi Ab- ramson, the children started' preparing for Pesach immediately after Purim. Each of the tables had a central Seder plate, com- plete with ceremonial foods, and each child had his or her own Seder plate with which Deena Kuhn, 10, of Farmington Hills, joins Jewish Federation Apts. resident Rose to participate. Leading the ceremonies Steigm an in the reading of the Haggadah at the practice Seder sponsored by the fifth grade were Jared Hurvitz, Albert classes in Temple Beth El's religious school.