I think not. I do have a box of matzohs in the cupboard. And I plan to buy some gefillte fish with the 1/2 coupon Maneschevitz handed out. But that will probably be the extent of my Passover celebration. One might say that this year I am not passing over. One might say I am moving beyond. And if you are the one who says that, could you please explain to me exactly what it means. Or inexactly, for that matter.
I could get into all the whys and wherefores and ramifications and therefores of why there is not a sedar this year. I do know people who are having sedars. But those to whom I could invite myself to plotz at their table are some 3000 miles away. And despite my involvement in The Jewish Community (caps very important) here in Sacramento, no one was forthcoming with an invitation (and truth to tell, I would have been shocked if anyone had, such has been the success of my involvement with the Jewish Community here). My family, the ones with whom I celebrate holidays, aren’t Jewish. They’re doing Good Friday and He Is Risen Sunday. Last year I had a sedar for them and they all came and were exceptionally good sports, but I kinda felt like I was on stage and hadn’t really learned my lines sufficiently well to say them with conviction. I guess I learned that it takes more than one mediocre Jew to hold a successful sedar for a bunch of Christians.
So tonight in honor of the Red Sea parting and manna raining down upon the Israelites, to commemorate the ten plagues which plagued those who enslaved us verily, tonight I shall be attending a comedy writing seminar. Somehow, I think God would approve.
We absolutely do come in every color- I’m proof of that. I’ll admit feeling guilty that our president had time to make a seder and I didn’t but what’s life without a little guilt?
I don’t do organized public seders anymore because my presence seems to upstage the event, and I get tired of explaining to well-meaning folks that a)yes, I am Jewish; and b)no, I’m an not Ethiopian nor did I convert. And, frankly,now that I’m at a certain age matzo does strange things to my body. However, I do miss the 4 cups…
Crap. That was me. For some reason the upsidedownness doesn’t work in some blogging software…
I wunder if there was an orange slice on the Obama Seder Plate?
Oooooooh, Laura…wow! What an insight. I love it. Thanks!!!
I didn’t have a seder this year either, but my excuse was that I was travelling with older daughter. I did make pot roast and kugel when I returned home. I thought of doing a late seder, but now I am out of the mood after having made matzoh brie a few times. Last year they were with their father and I had a seder by myself–drinking sparkling wine is a nice way to get through the four cups.
But onto a comedy writing seminar instead of a seder. Maybe the phrase “next year in Jerusalem” and all the talk of freedom has freed you to use this time to work on where you want to be next year and that is as fulfilling as reading about being free from bondage.
Happy Passover.
Could I really? I’m starting to have awful LA yearning pangs again…. Watched Southland tonight and actually felt homesick!
I didn’t have a seder this year but if I had had one, you could’ve plotzed here.
Joanna: Turns out the President has a rabbi in the family! Michelle’s cousin is a rabbi in Chicago. There was an article on him in the NYTimes last week. WE’RE EVERYWHERE! AND WE COME IN EVERY COLOR!
….. but the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES had a Seder at THE WHITE HOUSE for the very first time! That made me happy… and less guilty for not pulling one together at our house
I just loved this:)
Carol: Ah, Jewish guilt. It’ll get you every time.
Duchess: The seminar turned out to be a reading of his first novel by a Hollywood sitcom writer/producer. Nannygoats bought the book; I didn’t. We had coffee and conversation–and bakery stuff made with leavening!–afterwards, so the evening was perfect.
Congratulations on making your own plans. How was the comedy seminar?
Your post has reminded me to try to resurrect my best friend, who isn’t speaking to me. She will be having elaborate family seders and will be too busy to talk, but maybe she will be glad to be wished a happy Pesach. Thanks for reminding me.
I wish you that too, with or without the seder.
Our family also did not get an invite, and we’re still recovering from getting new carpets put in so we just had a dinner amongst ourselves, with matzoh, horse radish, and a few side dishes from Whole Foods (they make a great tzimmos who knew?). On Sunday we’re having another family for “Eastover” – a combo holiday thing. It all works for us, but I still dread that question from my dad “What are you doing for passover.” Oh, well.