Ready for a Seder in Ocean Grove. Eileen’s table design includes the Seder plate (L) with symbols of the Passover story.
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Passover begins in 2026 at sundown Wednesday April 1 and continues for 7 days, ending at sundown on April 8. The holiday is about an event, described in the Old Testament, which occurred over 3,000 years ago when the Jewish people, enslaved by the Egyptians, achieved freedom and returned to their homeland. They were led by a charismatic leader named Moses, and along the way they received the Ten Commandments.
The story is retold each year throughout the world during Passover, and 70% of American Jews attend Seders, which are events where families and friends gather to discuss the meaning of those ancient stories. It is a happy optimistic holiday that is accompanied by traditional foods, music and symbolic rituals. A book is read during the Seder; it is called the Haggadah and it has existed as a stand-alone document since the 15th century.
Over the years there have been many different Haggadah designs with many variations on the theme, but the core elements of the Passover saga have not changed over the millennia, and that is pretty impressive. In fact, Dr. Shoshana Silberman, formerly of Ocean Grove, has written and published two Haggadahs including the marvelous Jewish World Family Haggadah with black and white photos by Zion Ozeri.
Some people say that the Passover story is fiction. The exact truth regarding what happened back then is unknown—a matter of faith. But there is archeological evidence that confirms much of the story’s framework.
There probably weren’t any seders in the Grove back in Rev. Stoke’s time, but who knows? There is a Jewish community in Ocean Grove now, and Seders are certainly part of the fabric of life here in 2011 and now 2016. Eileen gets creative this time of year with her table design and homemade traditional foods.
MUSIC : traditional Passover song “Dayenu” (in Hebrew)–by the “Klezmers”
Eileen and Paul Goldfinger
The table looks beautiful. I am sure it was a great seder. While we had the first ones in Phila. we came to Ocean Grove for the end of the holiday. Brought all the special foods needed including chocolate covered matzah- something you do not find in every home in the Grove.
Eileen, Lucky the invites to your Seder table, it is beautiful.
This can’t be an Ocean Grove table — too many of the chairs match!!!
Seriously, this looks lovely.