arts & entertainment

A Seder Of Their Own

Old and new traditions infuse the interfaith seder held yearly at the home
of journalists Steve and Cokie Roberts, who have penned their own Haggadah.

"We try to
make the seder
a communal
ritual and not
an individual
relationship
with faith and
religion."

Steve and
okie Roberts*
have been in
an interfaith
marriage for
more than 40
*'"„,
years.Amik..
.

4*

- Cokie Roberts

Suzanne Chessler
Special to The Jewish News

to keep both religions and began the seders at her
suggestion. He was raised in a non-observant home,
and their Passover celebration brought his side of
okie and Steve Roberts, who regularly enter the family into the ritual just as it brought hers.
millions of homes through their political
The guest list, now nearing 50, grew as families
commentary on television and radio, invite grew. During years when school vacations take the
the public inside their home this year to experience
regulars out of town, the list of participants can
a very customized celebration of Passover.
change because there is room at the tables.
The two extend that invitation through a new
"We also wanted to make the seder accessible for
book, Our Haggadah: Uniting Traditions for
people who feel intimidated by the whole process:'
Interfaith Familes (HarperCollins;
says Cokie Roberts, a political com-
$19.99), which describes the tradi-
mentator for ABC News and a senior
tions and adaptations long shared
news analyst for National Public
0 UR
annually by this Jewish husband,
Radio.
Catholic wife, extended family on
"It all can seem overwhelming if
both sides and diverse friends.
people don't know how to go about
The illustrated text also encour-
it — setting the table, cooking
ages readers to come up with obser-
the meal or having a service that
UNITING
FRADITIONS
vances of their own by providing a
is comfortable. Our writing style
F OR
base of ritual, resources, recipes and
is talking to people because that's
JNTERFAiT H FA MiLIE S
recollections.
what we do. We're talking people
"This Haggadah crystallizes
through the whole process."
COME e7 STEVE
an idea that we've had from the
Our Haggadah, which tells how
beginning of our marriage says
ROB ERTS
the couple came up with the service
Steve Roberts, a political analyst
they follow, provides the story of the
on the ABC radio network and
Exodus, prayers (Hebrew, English
National Public Radio and a professor of media and
and transliterations), historic and newer symbols,
public affairs at George Washington University in
recipes in the Sephardic tradition and websites for
Washington, D.C.
obtaining foods, ritual objects and activity materials.
"We have wanted to make our seders comfort-
New symbols include the olive, to represent hope
able for non-Jews and interfaith families and even
for Middle East peace; the artichoke, to represent
Jews who were not raised with any kind of religious
what can be the thorny nature of interfaith families;
tradition.
and the orange, to represent many different sections
"Whether it's the readings we've provided about
coming together as a whole.
freedom that are from non-Jewish sources or expla-
"Our version is modern but also respectful of
nations we've provided about some of the symbols,
traditions and cognizant of the religious dimen-
stories or references, there are tangible expressions
sions of the service Steve says. "We tried to explain
of our idea."
everything.
The couple, who met in the 1960s when she was
"People might have gone to 20 seders and have no
at Wellesley College and he was at Harvard, decided
idea of the symbolism, such as the number four and

C

ITAGG ADM

Customize Your Seder
With Several New Books
Exploring The Haggadah

he Washington Haggadah (Belknap
Press; $39.95) will be especially
appreciated by readers drawn to
text art. It is a facsimile edition of the
Haggadah that long has been part of
the Judaica collection at the Library of
Congress.
From a red-capped Daniel in the lion's
den to Hebrew print with accenting
colors, the pages are filled with designs
that enhance the annual telling of the Passover story.
The original manuscript was created by Joel ben Simeon,
a 15th-century scribe and artist, and the book captures the
practice of religious and secular art in the early modern era.
David Stern's introduction tells about the originator of the
book and gives context to the masterwork.

T

Creating Lively Passover Seders: A
Sourcebook of Engaging Tales, Texts
& Activities (Jewish Lights; $24.99) is
filled with ideas for bringing a personal
touch to the seder table.
The vast range of observance oppor-
tunities – from limited to lengthy
: Sourcebook of
En.ia8ing Talcs,
ritual – is covered, and there are even
tS Fr Activities
suggestions for introductory gather-
n.wm %kxow, (ND
ings to prepare for the annual dinner
celebration. To give depth to the readings, discussion topics
are included.
David Arnow, who compiled the information, aims to deep-
en understanding, explore holiday themes and develop famil-
iarity with the Exodus story through participation in a seder
designed by participants.

Creatin8 Lively

PASSOVER
SEDERS

The Passover Zoo Seder (Pelican
Publishing; $16.99) introduces young
children to the holiday with a rhymed
tale lamenting tattered Haggadahs that
no longer can be read. The elephant,
able to remember the story, assigns its
recitation to his animal friends.
Written by S. Daniel Gutman and
illustrated by Phillip Ratner, the book is
meant to be read aloud as it relates to
the sounds the animals make.
Special activities, including crossword and word search
puzzles, are planned to get the children involved with the
text. Holiday terms help explain what the children will experi-
ence at the seder.

- Suzanne Chessler

Seder on page 73

pill 14 2011

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