Pesach wrap-up
Apr. 22nd, 2006 11:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rhuSo I haven't posted since before Pesach. I'm sure all my loyal readers are wondering "How was your holiday, Rhu?" I'm so glad you asked.
Sedarim went reasonably well. Kids stayed up both nights. We did Maggid off-book, being sure to hit the halachically required bits but also keeping the content and word choice at a level suitable for the (older) kids. "Rabbi Gamliel, who lived a long time ago, said that if we don't talk about three important things then our seder doesn't really count. Do you know what those three things are? Television, VCRs, and video games!" Which of course was met with delighted laughter and, "No! That's not right!" So they were paying attention.
This is the first time that I've been to a seder where the leader -- in this case, me -- actually ran the whole thing as opposed to going around the table. I felt that it would work better to have one person gague where the kids were at, skipping or embellishing each part, rather than have decentralized decision-making. I felt a bit guilty about this but I think it actually worked really well, given the nature of the seders this year.
Tani had made a matzah bag and afikoman cover in school, but they didn't fit the handmade round shmurah matzah that we use, and the seder plate that he made was not exactly usable, so we used our usual bags and plate but also had him set up with his own stuff, which thrilled him no end. He followed along with all the mechanics of handling the matzot, made his own brachot, etc. I'd call the sedarim quite successful, in that Tani came out of them with a real sense of ownership of the rituals.
Alissa sang some of the four questions (she'd been hearing Tani sing them for a few weeks and she's an excellent mimic when it comes to music) and thought the seders were fun, so that was also a good thing.
My inner yekke was pleased that we finished by about 11:30 both nights. Our guests each night seemed to enjoy themselves. And the kids learned a lot and felt personally involved, which is of course the entire point of the ritual.
As for the rest of the week, Tani took ill on Monday so we had to cancel our plans to get together with various friends to watch the marathon. Tani's birthday (wow, five years already!) was Wednesday and my parents came up to spend the second Yom Tov with us, which was delightful. Heather made a truly awesome flourless chocolate cake (2 lbs. chocolate, 8 eggs, brewed coffee, sugar, margarine) for his birthday.
Sedarim went reasonably well. Kids stayed up both nights. We did Maggid off-book, being sure to hit the halachically required bits but also keeping the content and word choice at a level suitable for the (older) kids. "Rabbi Gamliel, who lived a long time ago, said that if we don't talk about three important things then our seder doesn't really count. Do you know what those three things are? Television, VCRs, and video games!" Which of course was met with delighted laughter and, "No! That's not right!" So they were paying attention.
This is the first time that I've been to a seder where the leader -- in this case, me -- actually ran the whole thing as opposed to going around the table. I felt that it would work better to have one person gague where the kids were at, skipping or embellishing each part, rather than have decentralized decision-making. I felt a bit guilty about this but I think it actually worked really well, given the nature of the seders this year.
Tani had made a matzah bag and afikoman cover in school, but they didn't fit the handmade round shmurah matzah that we use, and the seder plate that he made was not exactly usable, so we used our usual bags and plate but also had him set up with his own stuff, which thrilled him no end. He followed along with all the mechanics of handling the matzot, made his own brachot, etc. I'd call the sedarim quite successful, in that Tani came out of them with a real sense of ownership of the rituals.
Alissa sang some of the four questions (she'd been hearing Tani sing them for a few weeks and she's an excellent mimic when it comes to music) and thought the seders were fun, so that was also a good thing.
My inner yekke was pleased that we finished by about 11:30 both nights. Our guests each night seemed to enjoy themselves. And the kids learned a lot and felt personally involved, which is of course the entire point of the ritual.
As for the rest of the week, Tani took ill on Monday so we had to cancel our plans to get together with various friends to watch the marathon. Tani's birthday (wow, five years already!) was Wednesday and my parents came up to spend the second Yom Tov with us, which was delightful. Heather made a truly awesome flourless chocolate cake (2 lbs. chocolate, 8 eggs, brewed coffee, sugar, margarine) for his birthday.
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(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-23 01:18 pm (UTC)I hope T's feeling better. Happy birthday, Mr. T!
Could you please post H's recipe? We just had a big discussion about Pesach cakes and Mrs. E said that she wouldn't eat any Pesach sponge cakes, no matter how good, unless they had chocolate in them.
Take care.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-23 02:41 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-23 04:40 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-24 06:05 am (UTC)