1 \'' V . N• ' .tN k \ W
, ' '..• \ '1 ' • ...". ' : ' < ,`: ''' ' :̀•; ' ■ :
:.,- ‘ , , , \\,,
. .,. , '''',
-, ‘.. \ k "N N ,. , , ' ."1 , ,...
. ‘..\\*:) \N

' \‘Nt

it '.. ''.. 1'1' \ N:\ ,L1 Z■ \ '''

N : \ . ,.t. ,

'‘.: '''',.' '

k•

k\A\I 1/4 \ \

st..`.

how she had become
a member of
Chabad.
Soon the men
returned and the
house grew lively as
the final preparations
for the seder began.
Each married son
Model seder brings old
readied his own
seder plate, wine was
glen
poured, hands
lay.
washed and
about the
Haggadot passed
out.
Feige and Laya Silberberg, 20 and 15, respectively prep the
I thought of the
kitchen for Passover.
rabbi's tape that
emphasized that the seder was a personal
me tips on what to bring, or not bring,
spiritual journey. Reviewing the story of
to the seder. We also discussed what to
Passover, he says on tape, one could also
wear. Cover your arms, one suggested,
open to his or her own personal
and wear a skirt, not pants. But don't
Mitzrayim (Egypt) and deal with what-
worry about covering your head.
Jennifer Law of Detroit as the king in the Passover play. She's with the seder
I was beginning to worry about every- ever enslaves you — a bad habit you
leader, JARC Judaic Coordinator Jay Telrav, and Joan Jones of Detroit as Moses.
want to be free of or a habit of thought
thing.
that limits you.
But once I arrived at the Silberbergs'
ing at Congregation Beth Shalom.
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
"The idea of the seder is to try some-
home, I was put at ease by the children's
The seder is an annual event for
Staff
Writer
thing new," said Chaya Sarah. "To take
toys strewn across the front lawn and the
consumers who are living in homes
that first step and try to tap into that
several baby strollers parked in front of
and apartments," Holmes says. "Many
ixty guests of a JARC-spon-
Godly experience."
the door.
of them will go home for seders with
sored Passover seder were given
I had two guides during the ceremo-
A daughter-in-law ushered me into
families or go to their synagogues, but
the opportunity to learn the
ny, often necessary because adults as well
the family room. Youngsters ran and
some won't, so we began this tradition
true meaning of the word "par-
as children could switch from English to
played, a pre-teen girl curled up on the
of hosting this seder the week before
ticipation."
Hebrew to Yiddish. I was seated between
couch reading a book, and other daugh-
Passover."
"As (JARC Judaic Coordinator)
Chaya Sarah and her mother, Pauline
ters-in-law and daughters relaxed nearby.
In addition, she says, the seder has
Jay Telrav led March 21 seder, the
Schulkind from Brooklyn, originally of
The men were still at shul.
become
a reunion for former JARC
group enacted the story of Passover,
Poland.
consumers
who can get together with
taking the various roles of Egyptians
The children, ever present, took part
friends
who
are in the independent
Memories Triggered
and Israelites," says Joyce Holmes,
in the ceremony, and sometimes played
living
program.
director of Community Supports for
I felt an odd comfort here, reminding
in the distance. But no matter when a
"It's a fun way to keep a tie between
the Farmington Hills-based agency.
me of growing up in Chicago long ago.
boy or girl asked the rabbi a question. —
staff
and former consumers and they
Current
and
former
JARC
consumers
But I was not prepared for my reac-
during or in between prayers — he
get
to
reunite with friends they don't
from
the
Shetzer
Independent
Living
tion when Mrs. Silberberg greeted me.
always answered them, and with respect.
see very often." ❑
Program joined together for the gather-
Chaya Sarah entered and sat beside me
Everyone was encouraged to partici-
on the comfortable long couch. She put
pate.
her stockinged feet up on the coffee table
Especially impressive was the asking
— she had been preparing for five days,
of the Four Questions by the youngest
she said — and we started to talk, about
child. The youngest, not yet three, was
my work, where I was from, where she
too shy at first to begin. So his older
was from, and then she asked about my
cousins, ages 4 and 5, took over. But
parents.
finally, standing on a chair, he recited all
Her question made me realize what
the questions in the traditional way, in
was missing in the room. My mother. I
Hebrew and in Yiddish.
knew how much she would have
The evening filled with discussions of
enjoyed talking to Chaya Sarah, the
the meaning of phrases and concepts,
young women and the children. And I
and with song, sometimes so powerful
felt my father's absence, too, still fresh —
the rhythm was pounded on the table.
he had died only a few months back.
By 2:30 that morning, we had cele-
The tears began to stream down my
brated, eaten and everyone had cleared
face.
the table. Six of us, including Chaya
Chaya Sarah huKed me. We talked
Sarah, remained talking in the kitchen.
about our mothers (hers is a Holocaust
Driving home, I was full of the
survivor whom I would meet later that
Passover celebration. My journey did not
Puppeteer, singer and storyteller Maureen Schz nan entertains families at an
evening) and the privilege my siblings
light up with individual spiritual fire-
open house for Congregation Beth Shalom Gan Shalom Early Childhood pro-
and I had had caring for our parents at
works, but it simmered, grounded in a
gram.
Gan Shalom is accepting applications for the fall 2002-2003 program,
the end of their lives.
family experience, both feared and
which
includes new afternoon classes as well as morning kindergarten enrich-
Comforted, I asked Chaya questions,
missed. It was finally time to come to
ment.
For
information, call (248) 547-7970.
how she and Rabbi Silberberg met, and
terms with it. LJ

S

Music Open House

4/5
2002

50