Judaism Distilled: UnSeder for One
Happy Passover
(Originally published on Instagram)
Passover feast for one.
A sore throat has led me to cancel my third night Seder, which was to be my only Seder this year. I’m sad and disappointed and determined to taste Passover anyway. I didn’t have the energy to make the artichokes just for myself today so I’m subbing in zucchini and onions for karpas. There’s a paschal yam, matza slathered in both charoset and maror, (not very) bitter lettuce, salted beitzah, Gefilte fish, homemade soup , a macaroon, fruit jellies and Manischevitz wine.
My loose plan for off-book Seder content was to explore the symbolism of all the Seder plate items and then personalize the theme of the story of moving from Mitzrayim (usually translated as Egypt but literally the narrow/stuck place) to the expanse of the Midbar (wilderness, literally “place of speaking”.)
These questions I offered my guests to ponder in preparation, I now offer for all of us:
- where have you been feeling stuckness or narrowness or bondage (puns welcome) in the past year (or to use a birthing metaphor for the Exodus experience, what/how have you been gestating)?
- where have you felt expansiveness or what expansiveness are you moving towards/ what are you birthing/ what version of you or parts of you are being birthed?
- what remnants or reminders or patterns or you allowing to leave behind to allow you to move forward freely?
-what is your dream/vision that you’re moving/evolving towards?
Feel free to comment or reply to me with any answers you’d like to share.
And I offer this blessing, too:
L’shana ha’ba’ah b’yachad. Next year, together.
p.s. for those who like me, are having “unseders” this year and have some thought that this is diluted Judaism. I offer instead that for me, this is distilled Judaism.
#kavanahoverkevah #unseder #passover2022 #kohenetanniematan #anniematan #priestesspath #morelove #kohenet #kohenettribe #priestessyourself #thepriestessisin #priestesspower #choosefreedomoverfear #priestessofwelcome #newparadigm #paradigmshift
Your seder plate looks lovely <3 I feel that I'm birthing projects and connections that will move me towards the Queer-Jewish future of my dreams; while moving through/out of patterns of scarcity and hurry, trying to hold on to the truth of abundance... chag sameach!
Thanks, Annie. I, too, had a (second) Seder for one. My Seder text has been the poetry of Marge Piercy, explaining the items on the Seder plate. It's not Passover without gefilte fish and candied fruit slices. I watched various Seder videos on YouTube, including the Ten Minute Seder and one with Elie Wiesel. I will ponder your questions. Yes, Next Year Together! Judith Maeryam