A Seder Like No Other
Some thoughts and plans for Passover 2020
Hi friends,
I hope you’re all hanging in there. This week has felt more normal than last week, as we all settle into a routine of sorts. In another timeline, I was supposed to be landing in Berlin today and instead, I’m too anxious to take a stroll around my neighborhood.
Today’s edition would normally be for paid subscribers, but I’m opening it to everyone in case it’s helpful and always appreciate your support to keep this newsletter afloat!
Writing about Passover is emotional for me as the reality sinks in that I won’t be spending it with my family. I thought about pushing the topic off a week, but I realized I’ll have to pick up Seder ingredients on my next grocery shopping trip and you guys probably will too. I work part-time at a temple and Passover is also top of mind in conversations there as we transition to virtual learning.
So here we go.
Will we all keep Passover in quarantine?
I’m leaning towards yes, though it will be harder (I’m thinking of making more almond flour muffins and we are well stocked on quinoa). I’ve done it under difficult circumstances before and now seems like a good time to lean into ancestral trauma. Even getting all the traditional seder foods will be tough, so I’m fully prepared to make some swaps. This is an individual decision and there should be no guilt around whatever choice you make. Even skipping one of the foods (like no pasta or bread) is a way to commemorate and follow a tradition.
What are we doing about seders?
We’ll probably do something over Zoom. Rabbis are in favor of it and it makes lots of sense. I’ve been trying to avoid shelling out for paid Zoom, but a seder goes way longer than 40 minutes so I’ll probably wind up signing up. My family makes our own Haggadah which will probably be sent out as a PDF (if you want a copy, let me know and I’m happy to share). There will be some logistical challenges as my roommate will also be on a zoom seder with family at the same time. Passover also involves many interactive elements like lighting candles, eating items from a seder plate, and hunting for the afikomen. We can do some of those things individually but it won’t be the same.
The festive meal at Passover is something I look forward to all year. My parents spend weeks prepping, making matzoh ball soup, chocolate caramel matzah, potato kugel, and charoset, selecting the wines and Afikomen gifts, finding relevant readings, and more (see last year’s Seder recap and 2018’s for more). We usually have at least ten people around the table and it also feels like the real start of spring if you can wear a summery dress. I’m going to try and make something special for myself, but I can’t make and store a multicourse meal for one. I want to make some kind of makeshift seder plate (an egg, horseradish, greens, parsley, and charoset seem fairly easy to execute) and I hope the store isn’t sold out of matzoh.
What can we do to make this meaningful?
There’s a lot of symbolism at play, which is something I find true each year. The Passover story is about freedom in many ways. My family always brings a modern issue to the table, whether it’s school shootings, the situation at the border, the refugee crisis, or something else. We are experiencing what feels like a literal plague and we need to work together, while staying physically apart, to defeat it. We took many freedoms, like the freedom to leave your house for a drink with a friend, for granted until recently.
Another silver lining I’ve been focusing on is the potential to have seder with our family on the West Coast. We never get off school or work for Passover so we can’t travel across the country for the holiday. Passover is 8 days long and many families have multiple seders. The first night is usually the marquee but the normal rules are off, so I’m hopeful we can commemorate the holiday once or twice, with relatives from all over.
There’s so much meaning in the names of things as well. Seder means order, which is something many of us are craving right now. A holiday with a specific set of rules almost feels like a relief. It’s telling you what to do and you’ll have to spend time and energy preparing (instead of scrolling through twitter). The heart of the matter is the Magid, telling the story and that’s what we have to do, then and now.
The Passover story also offers a strong push to stand up for justice, so make sure you’re using your voice and your $ during this time to advocate for medical workers, everyone struggling to make ends meet, the incarcerated, the restaurant industry, etc.
Are there any upsides?
Geography isn’t an issue! Have Seder with your relatives across the country/world.
You can celebrate in a way that’s meaningful. Let’s say seder isn’t meaningful to you or you prefer to celebrate with friends instead of family. This year you can probably get out of some obligations and celebrate however works for you. Watch the Prince of Egypt (a tip from Julia)!
If you’re keeping Passover, you won’t have to navigate going to events during Passover and wondering if there will be something for you to eat.
You can still eat pasta or order pizza to commemorate the end of Passover (I look forward to this every year).
What should I eat?
I’m sharing a few of my favorite Passover recipes here so you can shop accordingly. I’d love to hear what you’re going to make in the comments!
Charoset (I’ll probably use pecans instead of walnuts because that’s what I have). Grab eggs, parsley, a green like lettuce or celery, and horseradish for the Seder Plate. And make sure you have salt for the salt water.
A bright green salad to make it feel like spring
Potato kugel (also great for breakfast with a fried egg)
A quinoa salad for lunches during the week
I eat rice during Passover and love a nice hearty rice salad.
An eggplant dip to eat with matzoh
The fudgiest flourless chocolate cake
If you want to get fancy and have a ton of egg whites, make pavlova.
Chocolate caramel matzoh is my favorite Passover dessert. I have to find a way to make it.
A lot of the meals in the pantry staples list can work for Passover eating, especially with a few substitutions. Start with a big batch of chili, any egg dishes, and the grain salads (sub quinoa for farro).
I also loved this guide from Hey Alma with links to synagogues and other resources. I talked to a few of you and heard that Jenn is doing a zoom seder with family in Israel (so cool that this is possible), and others are planning virtual seders as well.
One final note: I was at a virtual meeting earlier this week and a rabbi (Rabbi Juli at CRS, she’s the best) said that this moment is for fumbling with humility. We’re going to make mistakes as we try to read responsively over video chat or prepare for 8 days without our favorite comfort foods. But we can do it with humility and gratitude and go from there.
Sending lots of love to you all! We made it through another week and I’m happy to talk more about this, let me know if you have questions and what you’re planning to do.
xo, Abigail