Spirituality

A group of men
made Sunday night
different from all
other nights.

A Guys' Seder

Shelli Liebman Dorfman

Senior Writer

p

assover seders may often be
planned by women, but one area
pre-seder event was organized,
hosted and attended by men only.
Taking place at Young Israel of Oak Park
on April 13, the synagogue-sponsored
annual program — the "Man's Seder" —
was led, as always, by the congregation's
rabbi, Reuven Spolter.
"A few years ago I was thinking about
how Federation has a mock seder for
women:' Rabbi Spolter said. "And it
dawned on me that all too often men are
called upon to lead the seder, but they
don't get the chance to prepare for it, from
an educational viewpoint." So he offered
them that chance.
The sub-theme of the program, attend-
ed by 40 men, was "four."
"I shared four different ideas about
Pesach, right from the Haggadah," the
rabbi said. "The hope is for the men to
take the ideas home and share them with
their families, including ways to involve
their children in the seder:'
A four-course meal, included steaks,
cooked by the men, and a four-beer
taste testing, organized by Joel Grand of
Huntington Woods, who co-chaired the
seder with Howard Klausner of Southfield.
There also were four surprises planned for
the guests, including a talk by Young Israel
of Southfield's Rabbi Yechiel Morris and
an unusual food treat.
"Sam Flail of Cornbelt (in Detroit)
donated (kosher) lamb from his slaugh-
terhouse, which we ate on whole wheat
pita," Rabbi Spolter said. "According to the
Torah, when we eat matzah and maror at
our seders, we are really supposed to have
lamb with it, too. We were able to do the
Even the sub-name for the program was
part of the theme. "We called it the "Man's
Seder Iv,- said Rabbi Spolter, "even though
this is only the third time we've done this."
The rabbi said each year the syna-
gogue's men look forward to the seder. "It's
a great time for them to get together and
learn:' he said. "I have a tremendous sense
of pride when they say they're received a
different and better religious experience to
take home with them." 0

A52

April 24 4, 2008

Clockwise from top:

A view of the room.

Yerachmiel Schaw of Oak Park takes
notes during the Man's Seder at Young
Israel of Oak Park.

Bill Sider of Huntington Woods and

Rabbi Reuven Spolter enjoy the dinner
portion of the event.

Jerry Eizen of Oak Park has fun with
friends at the seder.

Harry Jubas of Oak Park enjoys the
discussion.