f Freedom
hy was this seder
different than all
other seders?
To begin with,
this one spoke of
the four daughters,
not the four sons.
Four questions were
asked as well, ad-
dressed to the Jew-
ish foremothers. And
the Ten Plagues con-
, sidered such issues as
environmental con-
cerns, hatred of homosexuals, home-
lessness and war.
Early this week, several hundred
women joined at Congregation Beth
Shalom for the synagogue's first seder
for women. Guests included grand-
mothers, schoolgirls, judges and teach-
ers, among others.
Sponsored by the Beth Shalom Sis-
terhood, the event was chaired by Ali-
cia Nelson, working with a committee
that included Wendy Robins, Irene
Biber, Sara Voight, Ellen Dorshow-
Gordon, Judith Adler and Jamye Mey-
er.
Sitting together at four long tables,
the women joined in readings from a
Haggadah compiled especially for the
event. This seder emphasized not only
the telling of the story of the Exodus
from Egypt, but each woman's indi-
vidual story.
Throughout the evening, names of
strong women from throughout Jew-
ish history were evoked.
Among them were Shifra and Puah,
who refused to carry out Pharaoh's or-
ders to murder Jewish infant males.
Instead, risking their own lives, the
two cared for the boys and their moth-
ers.
While asking the "Four Questions,"
the women read of the prophetess Deb-
orah; of Bruriah, a Torah scholar; of
Hannah Senesh, who served with a
special military unit during World War
II; and of Gluckel of Hamein, a wife,
mother and author.
The program also included a song
session, and during dinner, guests were
encouraged to tell their own stories of
women of influence — mothers and sis-
ters who had shaped their lives, friends
who had helped define their values.
As the seder concluded, guests ap-
pealed to God for freedom from slav-
ery, speaking of "modem plagues" like
racism, sexism and anti Semitism. ❑
-
Women gather for a unique seder at Beth Shalom.
ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Top: Cindy Silverman washes before eating matzah.
Above: Stefa Kupfer takes a bite out of Hillel's famout sandwich.