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Simple Seder

One family's annual Passover gathering gets
a festively casual makeover.

WRITTEN BY JEANINE MATLOW

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ARMANDO RIOS

Debi Weinstein knows a thing or two about entertaining. She sets a gorgeous table, loves to
cook and, most importantly, she knows how to make her guests feel right at home.
For the past 14 years, Debi, a professional organizer, and her husband Lee, a pediatrician,
have invited family and friends to a Passover seder at their home in Farmington. Hills. At
last year's gathering, however, Debi decided to take her table in a more casual direction.
"I always haul out the good china," she says. But with 25 people in attendance, she opted

for pretty plastic ware this time around, set on a vintage-style tablecloth embroidered with
flowers and ribbons.
"We wanted it to be so relaxed," Debi says. "In a way, it helped set the tone."
Dining tables set up in the living room showcased family heirlooms and gifts, such
as Debi's grandmother's bone china salt-and-pepper shakers and both vintage and new
decorative bowls that have "great sentimental value," says Debi. Fresh flowers provided
punches of color, while kosher wine from Weinstock Cellars (brought by a friend for the
close resemblance to the name Weinstein) added another personal touch. Place cards
--- including a handful that simply read "college friends" for the as-yet-undetermined
friends her daughter Auld bring home from college — took the guessing game out of
where to be seated. 111t*
.
4Everyov read a passage from the family Haggadah, which the Weinsteins and their
three daughters — Elana, 20, Marni, 16, and Lila, 14 — have customized over the years,
gathering selections that appealed to them from previous seders. "It's all in English except
for the Fo'lu- Questions," says Debi, who has served as vice president and board member at
Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield. "We want our girls to know and truly understand
everything about their religion."
In keeping with the casual theme, dinner was served buffet-style. Guests provided the
appetizers, matzah-ball soup and desserts, such as kosher-for-Passover brownies, while
Debi prepared the main course, including brisket and Moroccan chicken.
Holiday gatherings like these naturallk bring forth memories of loved ones. "Especially
thoughts of people whom I miss but I dbn't often take the time to reflect on," says Lee.
"Passover always rekindles fond memories of my brother Martin, my grandmother and
Debi's Uncle Wally." But these memories also add to the joy he feels at having his family
together "to celebrate our freedomtd our faith," he says. With all of us so busy, it's not
that often that we can be together to share moments like this. So it's a great opportunity
to appreciate life and remember those who have gone ore us."
The evening was spent creating neyemories to chen Children played, conversation
d and palates were pleased.

117:1,411,

B 2 4 •

APRIL 2008

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IN platinum