Experts and events offer
engaging ideas for your
Passover seder.

PHOTOS BY JESSICA POLK

passover

Holiday
Readiness

STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

T

he ancient rabbis from centuries
ago knew it all along: The seder
is the ultimate teaching tool
designed to immerse Jews in the exodus
from Egypt by engaging all our senses.
Following this cue, many activities
around town are preparing Jewish
Detroit for the Feast of Unleavened
Bread. From The Well’s holiday-themed
Escape the Room event March 22-28
in Ferndale to Thread’s Passover by
Pinterest women’s evening earlier this
month at Hillel Day School to a multi-
tude of classes and programs at individ-
ual synagogues, there was no shortage of
ideas for creating lively, engaging seders
that will leave guests — no matter their
age or religious background — with food
for thought for Passover 2018.

TOP: Pinterest ideas prompted many
creative ideas at the Pinterest for
Passover event hosted March 8 by
Thread at Hillel Day School. Melanie
Weber and Clara Gaba of Hillel
recreated many of the Pinterest ideas
on display. Here, the parting of the Red
Sea is depicted using Lego figures,
cardboard pyramids and water
made of blue tablecloths.
ABOVE: Chef Hunny Khodorkovsky,
executive chef of Epic Kosher Catering,
gives some options for seder fare.
RIGHT: Lauren Gell of Bloomfield Hills
works on a personalized wine glass at
the Pinterest for Passover event.

38

March 22 • 2018

TRADITION WITH A TWIST

JCC JFamily Director Lisa Soble
Siegmann, who describes herself as an
“immigrant from Ohio,”
has hosted many seders
with friends who have
become her adopted
family here. She sug-
gests balancing tried-
and-true traditions
with new twists when
planning a seder. If fam-
ily members expect no
Lisa Soble
seder would be com-
Siegmann
plete without certain
recipes or songs passed down through
the generations, include them, but mix it
up with new additions.
Through the years, Soble Siegmann

jn

has invited her children and other young
guests to bring pillow pets for reclin-
ing. She has served dried seaweed and
Swedish Fish to represent saltiness and
the parting of the Red Sea, and she never
shies away from using props to enhance
storytelling.
Another way to keep things lively is to
give guests an assortment of Haggadot.
“Most Haggadot are variations on a
theme but pretty much follow the order
of a traditional seder, so I give my guests
different Haggadot,” Soble Siegmann said.
“That way when it is their turn to read,
they may find something interesting or
new to share with the others. This keeps
everyone on their toes and is especially a
good way to keep teens and young adults
engaged.”
A variety of Haggadot can be found in
synagogue and local Judaica shops, or
you can customize your own online at
haggadot.com.
They may not like to admit it, but Soble
Siegmann said teens still like the toys
and props on the table that they grew up
with, and they still relish the after-dinner
competition of finding the afikomen.
“The end goal is to make it a fun, posi-
tive experience for all your guests,” Soble
Siegmann said. “If you don’t get to every
part of the seder, it’s OK. I want my
Passover guests feeling like they had a
positive experience. And your guests
don’t have to starve waiting for dinner.
Pass out nibbles to nosh on after the
dipping ritual, and it will help them
hang on longer before the festive meal.”

continued on page 40