Shulchan Oreich - ShulCloud



Resources for SedarimThe Seder PlateWhat new symbol might you add to your Seder plate this year to represent the plague that is COVID-19?Kadesh—Blessing the Wine and the DayTraditionally, wine is intended to signify joy. Amidst the sadness that many of us are feeling about not being able to sit around the table together, what aspects of joy can we bring to this moment? Urchatz--HandwashingThis year, handwashing takes on a special significance. How might we think about making the many hand washings that we are doing this year feel like they are a holy act? Might we use the lack of a berakha in this first hand washing as an opportunity to reflect quietly on the idea that washing our hands actually has the power to save lives in the time of Covid-19?Karpas—Eating GreensThe first time we eat during the seder (and our first truly Passover-like ritual) is the dipping of greens into saltwater. Saltwater is a significant part of our story, a reminder of the tears shed during slavery and for enslaved people. But dipping the greens – the first shoots of spring, which always return, whether we witness their budding or not – are signs of hope amid dark times. Hope emerges, even while damp with tears.Karpas?symbolizes hope for the future. Jewish tradition always embraces hope, even during uncertain times. What are you hopeful about?Magid—Telling the StoryResources for ChildrenJourney through the story of the Exodus with PJ Library’s beautiful, artistic animation and easy-to-follow narration: ’s catchy music video tells the story of siblings Moses, Miriam, and Aaron and their familial devotion to one another; it also includes the crossing of the Sea of Reeds: this fun video, young children tell the Exodus story in their own words – with a few twists: for KidsWho was brave in the Passover story? What would you want to make sure that you brought with you if you had to leave Egypt in a hurry?The Four Questions:The seder is all about invoking curiosity. This year, our seder is different in so many ways. What are some questions you’re asking tonight?How do we sustain our relationships in a time of social distancing?Which of the Four Questions resonates most strongly with you this year? Why?It is traditional for the youngest person at the seder to ask?the Four Questions. If you were to create a new tradition for the asking of the Four Questions, who would you choose to ask the questions? Why?The Four ChildrenWhat if the Four Children each had to respond to the Covis-19 virus? See AppendixThis important moment in the seder can invite everyone into conversation about ourselves as children, as adults, and as members of a community tasked with leading new generations into the future. How does this moment of pandemic alter our relationships in each of these spheres? The Four Children could be perceived as four personalities within one person. When and how do you see yourself as each of these children?The Ten PlaguesDo you think of the Covid-19 virus as an 11th Plague? Why or why not?Given our custom of removing a drop of wine for each plague that we recite as a way of recognizing the suffering of the Egyptians, what are the ways in which we have witnessed beautiful responses to the virus that remind us our common humanity at this time of great suffering?A Prayer for This Plague (See Appendix)DayeinuParticularly in times of stress, this moment in the seder, full of singing and simple repetition, can be a stark reminder of the importance (and the challenge) of practicing gratitude.What might have been enough… until another meaningful moment appeared around the next corner? How can we see our time of gathering for seder as?Dayenu, when we received a moment of grace, when perhaps we thought we’d had enough?A Dayeinu for our Time (see Appendix) and a Dayeinu PrayerMaror, Charoset, and?KoreichWe eat the bitter herbs twice before eating the meal. Can each person share an acknowledgment of what has been bitter—what has been truly hard about these days since the virus? How does tasting the bitterness increase our enjoyment of the sweet? Can you imagine sweetness that may come out of this time?Has there been an experience in your life that was bitter at first but, in retrospect, feels sweet?When in your life have you experienced bitter and sweet concurrently?Shulchan Oreich: Eating the Festive MealIn past years, maybe we all sat together and ate the same food around the same table, arguing about whether the matzah balls were too dense or too light. This year, we’re eating different meals at different tables in different places, but we’re still able to come together as a community.What’s your go-to main course on Passover?Share a story about a dish on your seder table.Don’t forget to include some silly songs See AppendixAfikomen IdeasCreate a scavenger hunt in each home;?use Scrabble letters to unscrabble where the akikomen is. Create riddles to solve find the afikomen.The afikomen reminds us that what is broken can be repaired, and what is lost can be found. What are some things you hope to find and repair before we meet again for seder in 2021?Hallel, Elijah, and Miriam: We open the door to welcome Elijah in order to usher in hope for the future. What do you think Elijah needs to bring this year?What will we do this year to help bring hope to the world?Nirtzah: Looking AheadWe conclude our seder looking toward next year. What do you hope for next year's Passover?AppendixThe Four Children in the Age of Covid-19By Jordan Namerov, The Four Children and COVID-19 March 25, Each of these?four children?react differently to the requirement that every generation at every Passover tell the story of Moses and the liberation of the Jews from Egypt. I feel like a similar parable can be said about what’s happening now with social distancing and individuals’ compliance with shelter-in-place and lockdown orders. We have all read the reports of spring breakers on the beach, people who can’t afford to stay home because they need to earn a living, and people who think this whole thing is being blown out of proportion, and that the situation in the U.S. will never be as bad as in China and Italy. Through the lens of the Haggadah, here is how it would look:The?wise son?will realize that, by staying home and keeping his children home, he will be part of the solution and no longer part of the problem. The virus can’t spread if no one is spreading it. This idea of flattening the curve — the number of people who will get sick at the same time —can only happen if people?start staying home?today.?Here in Milan, after three weeks on lockdown, the number of new confirmed cases and deaths is only starting to flatline now. In other words, it took three weeks of strict lockdown to start seeing results. And when I mean results, I’m talking about very small results: instead of 600 people dying per day, we brought it down to 550.The?wicked son?will say that he is healthy, young, and not at risk to get the virus. He believes that his individual liberties trump any responsibility to his community, that only those who are at risk should comply. He would never assume that he has the virus — he has no symptoms, so how could he? In his mind, this problem is about “you” and not about “me”?— just like the wicked one who does not see the connection between what God did for his ancestors in the land of Egypt and himself.?Many of the comments about the epidemic here point to Italy’s aging population. The tone is, “Well, elderly people have had a long life and I guess it’s just their time to go.” These people must not have loved ones over 70, or, if they do, they consider their lives expendable. Or they would be perfectly fine if their loved one died alone in a hospital room, had no funeral, and at best, eventually getting an urn with their remains.?This is what’s happening in Italy today. Other comments point to the fact that Italy is much more crowded than the U.S. This would be a great argument if you lived in a small, rural town in Nebraska, but shows no regard for the people who live in America’s big, crowded cities, like New York, where the number of cases has ballooned to approximately?15,000?as of Tuesday morning.?The?simple son?will be overwhelmed by the media. He will be?confused by scientific explanations, quick to believe fake news, lulled by the soothing sound of imminent cures (like the ones coming from the?American president) or the naysayers that accuse concerned citizens of fear mongering. He will not realize that the political decisions being made about our health and safety are often, at their core, economic ones.The?simple son?will take comfort in the mentality of the masses going about their business, maybe go out and stock up on toilet paper for good measure (Italians remain quite baffled by this one, I must add), and will only realize that we, collectively, are in trouble when the pendulum swings closer to a healthcare crisis.The?son who is unable to ask? Those are our children and, in some cases, our elderly relatives. They might not be “unable to ask” per se, but they might be unable to ask the right questions. Some kids might be happy to have some time off from school, or might embrace online learning and seem perfectly fine. Many of my friends in the U.S. are struggling to contain their children and teens who are begging them to go out and complaining that their friends’ parents are letting them do so: “It’s not fair!”?Let it Pass Overby Rabbi Naomi LevyOn this sacred nightDivided in spaceUnited in voiceAs we start our Seder We cry out to You, God,From our place of confinement and worry.Hear our Passover Prayer:Let it Pass Over, GodLet this plague Pass Over us.Let it Pass Over every nation, every people,The young and the old.Let it Pass Over Every city and every villageAll across Your world. Let it Pass Over, Heal those strickenIn every hospital bed And in every home.Let this night of LiberationMark the birth of a great healing.Give all souls the wisdom and the strengthTo sacrifice their freedom of movementFor the sake of life.Send healing to all who are ill.Fill doctors and nurses and all those in the front lines of this battleWith the full force of their sacred healing powers.Watch over them, God.Enlighten scientists all across the world With insight and discoveries That will lead to effective treatments,And some day soon, A cure. Free us, God, From this plague.Shelter us with your comforting presence.On this Passover NightWe pray to you, God,Let it Pass Over us.Hear us God, Heal us GodAmen. A Dayneu for our time: Michael StrassfeldIf I can’t get together with my friends but I can see and talk to them by Zoom—dayenu; it would be enough.If I am stuck in my home for days that turn into weeks but at least I have a home unlike too many others—dayenu; it would be enough.If I am anxious about whether I have the coronavirus but I have a doctor who I trust for advice—dayenu; it would be enoughIf I have symptoms and my doctor says to stay at home and most likely I will be okay—dayenu; that would be scary but still it would be enough.If I need to go to the hospital at least I know I will get first rate care and while now I am really afraid –still dayenu; it would be enough.If I was isolated and my loved ones couldn’t come to my room, I would cry but assured of their love—dayenu; it would have to be enoughIf I knew that my life was coming to an end and death was at the door of my room, I would wrap myself in my story –its happy moments and its sad ones, in its blessings and in its final curse. I would remember that our stories don’t end but go on and on as long as memory endures—dayenuDayenu – Enough, God!by Rabbi Naomi LevyLet those who are ill find healing – Dayenu Let our worries be calmed – DayenuLet the weak and the vulnerable be protected - DayenuLet all healers find paths to bring healing - DayenuLet scientists grasp a higher knowing That will lead to a cure – DayenuLet there be an end to this plague, God – DayenuFill our hearts with hopeAnd our souls with faith,Our bodies with healthAnd our homes with love.Unite our world to bring on a day of freedomLet the seeds of rebirth take root tonightAnd grow in blessingsIn Your light.Dayenu – Enough, God.Amen.Some Silly Passover SongsJust a Tad of Haroset Just a tad of haroset helps the bitter herbs go down,The bitter herbs go down, the bitter herbs go down.Just a tad of haroset helps the bitter herbs go down, In the most disguising way.Oh, back in Egypt long ago,The Jews were slaves under Pharaoh.They sweat and toiled and labored through the day.So when we gather Pesach night,We do what we think right.Maror, we chew, To feel what they went through.ChorusSo after years of slaveryThey saw no chance of being free.Their suffering was the only life they knew.But baby Moses grew up tall,And said he'd save them all.He did, and yet, We swear we won't forget.Chorus While the maror is being passed, We each refill our water glass,Preparing for the taste that turns us red.Although maror seems full of minuses, It sure does clear our sinuses.But what's to do? It's hard to be a Jew!!!ChorusThe Ballad of the Four ChildrenSaid the father to his children, "At the Seder you will dine, You will eat your fill of matzoh, You will drink four cups of wine."Now this father had no daughters, But his sons they numbered four. One was wise and one was wicked, One was simple and a bore.And the fourth was sweet and winsome, he was young and he was small.While his brothers asked the questions he could scarcely speak at all.Said the wise one to his father "Would you please explain the laws? Of the customs of the Seder, Will you please explain the cause?"And the father proudly answered, "As our fathers ate in speed, Ate the paschal lamb 'ere midnight And from slavery were freed."So we follow their example and 'ere midnight must complete All the Seder and we should not After 12 remain to eat.Then did sneer the son so wicked "What does all this mean to you?" And the father's voice was bitter As his grief and anger grew."If you yourself don't consider As son of Is-ra-el,Then for you this has no meaning You could be a slave as well."Then the simple son said simply "What is this," and quietlyThe good father told his offspring "We were freed from slavery."But the youngest son was silent For he could not ask at all.His bright eyes were bright with wonder As his father told him all.My dear children, heed the lesson and remember evermoreWhat the parents told their childrenTold his sons that numbered four.Our Passover Things (Sung to the tune of "My Favorite Things")Cleaning and cooking and so many dishesOut with the chametz, no pasta, no knishesFish that's gefilted, horseradish that stingsThese are a few of our Passover things.ChorusWhen the plagues strikeWhen the lice biteWhen we're feeling sadWe simply remember our Passover thingsAnd then we don't feel so bad.Matzah and karpas and chopped up harosetShankbones and kiddish and yiddish neurosesTante who kvetches and uncle who singsThese are a few of our Passover things.ChorusMotzi and moror and trouble with Pharaohs Famines and locusts and slaves with wheelbarrowsMatzah balls floating and eggshell that clingsThese are a few of our Passover things.Chorus ................
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