Feminist Seder Pioneer Esther Bronner Is Subject Of New Documentary

by Sandee Brawarsky for The Jewish Week

At the feminist seders led by novelist E.M. Broner, the women would go around and introduce themselves matrilineally, naming as many ancestors as they knew. Broner wanted to be sure that they remembered the generations of women who spent the seder in the kitchen, preparing and serving, leaving the telling of the Passover story to the men.

In 1976, Broner, who is perhaps best known for her experimental and critically acclaimed novel “A Weave of Women,” created the first feminist seders, held in Manhattan and Haifa. Now hundreds of women’s seders are held around the world, but few credit Broner, who died in 2011 at age 83, as the pioneer.

Lilly Rivlin’s new film, “Esther Broner: A Weave of Women,” the story of Broner’s life and career woven together with her leadership of the feminist seder, spotlights Broner’s contributions and her uncommon spirit. Her life was a weave of connections — between past and present, and among the women whose lives she threaded together.

In an interview with The Jewish Week, Rivlin explains that she first met Broner when she was invited to the second feminist seder in 1977; Rivlin was then anointed one of the seder sisters. But she only decided to make this film a few days before Broner’s death, when she and a group of the closest circle of friends — who called themselves the weave — got together after visiting Broner in the hospital and going to Shabbat services. They knew their friend was dying.

“I felt like I had to make a film about her,” Rivlin says. But she never sat down to interview Broner, as she did with subjects of her other films, like novelist and short story writer Grace Paley. Instead, Rivlin unfolds the story through archival footage of the seders and other events, along with her own narration and interviews with leading feminists Gloria Steinem, Letty Cottin Pogrebin, Michelle Landsberg and others. She also includes footage of Broner’s second wedding, held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her marriage to painter Robert Broner.

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PESACH – FIRST DAY

By Rabbi Yaakov Haber for the Orthodox Union

The recital of the Haggadah opens with the words: “This is the bread of affliction which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry enter and eat, and all who are needy come and celebrate the Passover.”

This declaration is, in fact, in accordance with a law in the Shulchan Aruch, that we should be willing to share all our festive meals with the hungry. The invitation is even made in Aramaic, the spoken language at the time of the composition of the Haggadah, so that a hungry person passing by could understand it. But there is a problem with this explanation: why do we make such an invitation only at Pesach, and not at the other festivals, when there is the same obligation of hospitality? In order to try and answer this, I would like to quote from the Gra (Vilna Gaon).

In his book “Aderes Eliahu” he lists the three greatest events in world history: the Creation of the World, the Redemption from Egypt, and the Giving of the Torah. Why these events? Not necessarily because they were the most spectacular as miracles, but because, firstly, each of these is an ongoing processes, and secondly, we are partners in this process! Let us explain this by considering each in turn. First, the Creation. G-d is continually active in the Creative process. Furthermore, whenever we have children in fulfilment of the Biblical commandment to “be fruitful and multiply”, or whenever (for example) we plant trees, we are ourselves involved in this process.

Consider, next, the Giving of the Torah. This is also a continuing process. Moreover, whenever we learn, or teach, Torah, or find chidushim (new insights), we are involving ourselves in the Giving of the Torah. Finally, let us consider the Redemption. This is also a continuing process, starting with the Redemption from Egypt, and culminating in the coming of the Messiah. Here too we have our part to play. How do we do this? It need not be on a grand scale. Think about the other two events. With Creation, we are not required to populate half the earth! We fulfil our part by having our own children. Similarly, we don’t have to plant forests everywhere. It’s enough to plant trees in our own backyards, or in the JFK Forest in Israel.

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Humanistic Judaism View of Passover

What Is Passover?

Passover, which begins on the evening preceding the fifteenth day of the Hebrew month of Nissan, is the great spring celebration of the Jewish people. Passover began as a nature holiday, celebrating new life. In the priestly and rabbinic traditions, it became a commemoration of the biblical exodus and the escape from slavery in ancient Egypt. This familiar tale, contained in the traditional Haggadah, is retold each year at the seder, the Passover celebration.
Humanistic Jews view the biblical Exodus story as one of the most powerful myths of the Jewish people, a tale that relates the courage and determination of a people fleeing slavery for freedom. Secular Humanistic Judaism views Passover as a time to celebrate the modern, as well as the ancient, quest for freedom. A Humanist Haggadah includes both the legendary tale of the exodus from Egypt and the modern Jewish exodus stories, as well as the themes of its origin. Passover is also a celebration of human dignity and of the freedom that makes dignity possible.

A Humanistic Passover Celebration

Humanistic Jews question the traditional explanations of Pesakh. There is no evidence that the Exodus occurred or that the Hebrew people were in Egypt in the numbers described. The traditional Haggadah includes an anthropomorphic, active, ethnocentric God and the passive deliverance by God of the Hebrews. There are few, if any, women in this Haggadah, and there are no daughters while four sons are described. A secular Passover relates a nontheistic tale. Humanistic Jews celebrate the actions people take to improve their own lives. A cultural Passover recognizes gender equality and the value of inclusiveness so that both girls and boys, men and women feel connected to their history

So what is meant by a Humanistic Passover celebration? For one thing, Humanistic Jews continue the tradition of telling the Exodus story, but they accept that it is a story, not history. Humanistic Jews also talk about the possible history behind the story, perhaps a small slave escape that grew in the retelling. A secular Passover celebration emphasizes the themes of human freedom and dignity, the power of human beings to change their destiny, and the power of hope. Humanistic Jews recognize the power and value of many episodes in Jewish history, not only ancient times. Passover thus becomes a celebration of other times and events when people have left their homes for a new life and where human dignity and courage are honored. Events of the twentieth century record the courage of millions of Jews who left the land of their birth, escape persecution and seek freedom in Palestine and the land of Israel. Passover recognizes the struggles of millions of people to overcome oppression to achieve freedom and equality. The immigration from Eastern Europe to America, perhaps the largest Jewish Exodus ever, is a powerful part of a Humanistic Passover. Even more significant, the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising against the Nazis in 1943 began on the first night of Passover; including a commemoration of this struggle provides a meaningful true story of a people fight for dignity, using their own power to control their destinies. The departure of Refuseniks from the former Soviet Union for Israel and America, the successes of the labor, Civil Rights and women’s movements in the twentieth century – all of these find a place in the Humanistic Haggadah. A Humanist Passover celebration is a celebration of human courage and human power, of the quest for human dignity and equality. This is what makes it one of the most meaningful and enduring Jewish holidays today.

The Seder

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Savory Hamantaschen

The same shape with some surprising new flavors for Purim.

By Rachel Harkham for Kveller

Hamantaschen as savory hors d'oeuvres? Or perhaps as a hearty supper dish? Maybe reimagined as a saucy and cheesy personal pizza? For too long the hamantaschen has been cornered into being the expectedly sweet holiday treat. When culinarily considering the iconic Purim cookie, it's clear that its most important characteristic is its shape. Its triangular form is meant to ridicule the Purim villain Haman's hat, or even more insulting, ears. And beyond the shape, a hamantaschen is about the crust that holds or cradles a flavorful filling.



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Creative Ideas for Mishloach Manot (Purim Gift Baskets)

Reprinted form ReformJudaism.org

Traditionally, mishloach manot (the sending of food) are two food items (from different food groups) sent to at least two friends. Over the years, mishloach manot have developed into sometimes elaborate food packages to many friends and family in your community.

Always on the hunt for new creative ideas for mishloach manot, here are a few ideas.

Breakfast-Themed: Some people like to give out their mishloach manot first thing in the morning so that their package is waiting at the front door. Here are some morning ideas:

• Freshly squeezed orange juice and a homemade muffin
• Muesli with yogurt and freshly squeezed orange juice

Simple and Adorable: Mishloach manot do not need to be elaborate and expensive. These ideas are easy and fun!

• Homemade cookies and a small carton of milk
• Tea and scones
• Beer and nuts (for an older crowd!)
• Mini cupcakes and a small carton of milk or chocolate milk
• Wine and cheese

Family Involvement Required: If you have young children, find ways to involve them in preparing and delivering your family's mishloach manot.

Mini cookies bouquets! Get free plastic flowerpots at your local greenhouse. Have your kids decorate the outside of the flowerpots with stickers. Older children will help make flower-shaped cookies on sticks. Place the sticks in Styrofoam at the base of the flowerpot. Fill the pot with Mike and Ikes!
Have younger kids pick two or three friends to send Mishlo-ach Manot to. Let them pick a candy or fruit and a cookie or muffin. They can decorate the basket or write a card to their friend.

Themed Mishloach Manot: Picking a theme for your mishloach manot is an easy way to stand out from the bunch.

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