Mazel Toy
Sta ff p ho to by Arman do Rios
FAMILY FOCUS
Sy and Harriet Lusky, Helen Brown, Debbie Lusky and Elaine Margolis display some of the items to be included in their giant seder.
Table For
Family, friends celebrate freedom at mega-seder.
Shelli Liebman Dorfman
Senior Writer
A
s families grow — and seder
table sizes don't — the solu-
tion for some is to divide up
and conquer the escalating numbers with
several smaller gatherings. Two branches
of one family had the opposite reaction
when their annual seder exceeded 40
guests.
"We always talked about inviting more
members of our family to one big seder:'
said Harriet Lusky, who hosts a yearly
seder with her husband, Seymour (Sy),
and his sister Helen Brown and her hus-
band, Fred, of West Bloomfield. "Sy always
says, `This year, I wish we could have
everybody together?"
And last year was that year.
In 2007, in addition to their usual
participants of family and some close
friends, they doubled the guest list by
inviting the families of Helen's and Sy's
late brothers, Benjamin and Herman, to
one huge, multi-generational affair.
After hosting their
usual seder on the first
night of Passover, the
second night brought 83
family members together — including
three from California — at a condomini-
um clubhouse in West Bloomfield.
at hers, then we got together to make
most of the rest of the dishes?'
They were joined by their nieces,
Benjamin's daughter, Elaine Margolis of
Ypsilanti and Debbie Lusky
of Oak Park, Benjamin's
daughter-in-law.
"That day, we made nine
briskets, four turkeys and side dishes:'
Helen said. "Slicing the 30 pounds of bris-
ket was a very big job?'
Guests brought extras like salads from
their kosher homes or potatoes from
Quality Kosher Catering in Southfield.
Individual smaller seder plates were
made for each participant, in addition to
the main larger one.
"Everything was served on paper plates
and throw-away aluminum pans to make
sure it was all kosher-for-Passover:' said
Harriet, who, like Helen, makes her home
kosher-for-Passover each year.
On The Cover
Everyone's A Cook
"Helen and I always do the cooking
together at my house for our usual two-
family seder," Harriet said.
Last year, they continued the tradition
in the kitchen of the Lusky's Southfield
home the Friday afternoon before
Passover.
"I made the gefilte fish at my home
first:' Helen said. "Harriet made the soup
"Everybody pitched in and set the
tables, helped served and fold up the
tables and chairs afterward:' Helen said.
The Seder Itself
As is done in years where there are a mere
40 or so guests, last year's seder was led
by Sy and Fred.
"We go around the table and read from
the Haggadah," Harriet said. "And every-
body sings!'
Rod Brown of Farmington Hills, Helen
and Fred's son, said, "We really get into
the songs. They're a highlight of the seder
every year?'
In addition to bringing tabouli to the
seder — made with his bubbie's old
grinder — Rod was in charge of "the
plagues" as he is every Passover.
"To prepare, I ask friends; I go online
Table For 83 on page C22
iN
April 17 • 2008
C21