PASSOVER

T

B AR R IE R

AMY J. MEHLER

Staff Writer

Photos by Glenn Triest

here aren't any copies
of "All in His Hands,"
a knee-slapping,
Bible-thumping Gospel favo-
rite, in many traditional
Passover Haggadot.
Nor are there many Jew-
ish families who'd know how
to sing it even if there were.
But many did just that last
week, joining about 250
others during Oakland
County's second annual
black-Jewish seder, an eve-
ning sponsored by the Mich-
igan Region of the Anti-
Defamation League of B'nai
B'rith and South Oakland
Chapter of the National
Association for the Ad-
vancement of Colored Peo-
ple.
Some said the sight of
young, black women in choir

robes of electric blue and
yellow, singing to a mixed
audience, was one they're
not likely to forget.
"It's not like any seder I've
been to," said 8-year-old Rit-
chie Wallace, who joined a
group of black children in
chanting aloud the Four
Questions. "This one is real-
ly cool and lots more fun."
David Wallace, vice presi-
dent of the ADL, called the
performance by the mem-
bers of the Mitcham Chapel
Choir, "inspirational."
He came by himself last
year, but was so impressed,
he decided it was something
his entire family should ex-
perience.
"Blacks and Jews have
slavery in common," Mr.
Wallace said. "I thought it
was important for my kids to
come and see everyone shar-
ing the Passover seder."
For most Jewish families,
the traditional seder plate,
with its hard boiled egg,
horseradish and roasted
shank bone, was a reassur-
ing sight. For others, like
Malesa Stapleton of the Mit-
cham Chapel, it was com-
pletely fresh.

Above: Michael Sosin and
Jerry Hargrove share the
Haggadah.

Left: This is matzah, the bread
of affliction.