1. Model CommunityPassover Seder
JFS sponsors a celebrationfor R.I. seniors
Sam Buckler and Tillie Orleck, above, and Miriam Snell,right, with Cantor Steven Dress./Irina Missiuro
Warwick – On March 20, buses delivered seniors from the community to Congregation Am David to celebrate Passover. Older Rhode Islanders and people with disabilities united for a special Seder that was
designed with their needs in mind. Shorter than the usual Passover meal, the luncheon celebration was a fitting way for the participants to recognize the occasion.The round tables beckoned with Passover
platters and grape juice masquerading as wine. As the guests settled down, Hazzan Steven W. Dress,of Temple Israel in Sharon, Massachusetts,kicked offthe event with song. The seniors loved his
repertoire, which included a rendition of“A Fewof My Favorite Passover Things” and “Take Me Out to the Seder.”
The cantor has been practicing his craft for nearly three decades,one of them at Am David,where he served the congregation from 1982 until 1991. After he wished everyone a happ y first day of spring, Dress
lightened the mood by saying that,instead ofa foot of snow,we’ll only have three to four inches now. Later,while describing the symbolism of the foods on the Seder plate,he made another dig at our New
England weather, pointing out that the greens’ representation of spring is more evident in Israel.
The cantor conducted the main part of the Seder in a Socratic manner. Those guests who answered his questions correctly were rewarded with generous praise. Would you have known the real significance of
the shank bone? Dress explained that animal sacrifice, which we haven’t done for 2,000 years, used to be our primary form ofworship. The bone is a nostalgic reminder that offerings were given with a full
heart, and that our priorities need to change from focusing on the substance (lamb) to focusing on the spirit (listening to the Seder’s readings attentively, not repeating them by rote).
He also explained the reason Ashkenazim don’t serve lamb at the Passover table: they are wary thatguests might assume thatt hey sacrificed the animal.
Lunch highlights included a performance of the Four Questions,chanted masterfully by Rabbi Aaron Philmus,of Temple ToratYisrael,and the profound insights shared by Rabbi Jeffrey W.Goldwasser, of
Temple Sinai. Goldwasser surprised everyone by saying thatPurim and Pesach are essentially the same holiday. After all, the story centers on a foreign power’s threat to kill the Jews, who are ultimately saved
at the last moment.
However, he admitted that the differences are quite important as well. While the Book of Esther, which we read on Purim, does notcontain the name of God, the Haggadah, which we read on Passover,
mentions God often, but brings up Moses only once. This reminds us that there’s more than one way to look atthe world – you can choose either the human (it’s all up to us) or the divine (it’s all up to God)
perspective.
Neal Drobnis, coordinator of kosher nutrition at JFS,and the organizer of the event, seemed to focus on the human perspective that day. He joyfully rolled the matzah ball soup cart, dancing to the appreciative
laughter of the onlookers, a few ofwhom remarked how much they liked his colorful kippah.The man had every reason to celebrate the holiday in style since he pulled off a great Seder.
Together with Steve Tragar, Kosher Senior Café manager at Temple Am David, Elaine Shapiro, assistant meal site manager, and 10 volunteers,Drobnis served a delicious meal prepared by Accounting for
Taste. Seniors and guests dined on chicken cutlets in apricotsauce and potato kugel with carrots.
Some groups, such as The Fogarty Center and AccessPointR.I., continued their tradition of making an annual appearance at the Seder. Steven Buonfiglio,supervisor atR.I. Community of Living and Su pport,
said these groups attend every year so that people who may notgo to temple can be connected to their culture.He added, “The folks really look forward to it.” Next year, Drobnis hopes to invite disabled
veterans to the celebration.
Everyone deserves a chance to taste outstanding matzah balls surrounded by a sea ofbroth and carrots.The seniors didn’t dem ur for a second when offered another bowl of soup.They responded
immediately, “Well, since you asked, don’t mind if Ido!” The only dislikes at the table were lost knives and misplaced forks .
Paulette Green, an energetic senior, was full of zingers, one of which pinpointed the duplicate nature of matzah balls. She said,“If they’re made right,they’re lovely. Ifthey’re not,you can play baseball with
them.” When asked abouta dear Seder memory, she responded,“They lasttoo long, and you starve to death!” Green loved not having to prepare the meal, “I don’t cook. I defrost.” She hasn’thosted a Seder
in ages, “I stopped when my daughter-in-law found out Iwould cook the brisketahead of time and freeze it.”
Ann Trimmel, Drobnis’ aunt by marriage, was delighted to be atthe Seder. She said, “I’m not Jewish, but I enjoy every moment.” A resident of Shalom Apartments, Trimmel accepted her neighbor, Corinne
Resnick’s, invitation to attend the celebration for the second year.
The seniors arrived atthe Seder for various reasons. Some were brought by their caregivers, some by their friends.Many want ed to celebrate Passover withoutthe burden ofSeder preparation. Others
appreciated the company of fellow Seder guests. Whatever the reason, they were glad to be a part of the event. Resnick summed up the sentiment, “It’s great. They do a wonderful job.”
Irina Missiuro is a writer and editorial consultant for The Jewish Voice.

2. Review:A glance intoan alternate universe
If you enjoy spending hours strolling through photo galleries and reading the captions, see “Ida.” Ifyou think Edward Hopper’s paintings are beautiful, see “Ida.” Ifyou don’tmind not knowing enough about the
characters to understand why they choose what they choose, see “Ida.”
Those who watched the Oscars and expect the film to be as clever and witty as Pawel Pawlikowski’s acceptance speech for the BestForeign Language Film might be disappointed. Yes, the movie has
garnered high praise from critics worldwide.Yes, it’s unusual and artsy and charming.It’s also unnecessarily slow,unfortunately incomplete and unnervingly unmoving for the most part, considering the subject
matter.
Pawlikowski seems to rely on cinematography to fill the gaps in the story, character development and historical background. However, even that method is somewhat flawed considering the language barrier. If
you’re forced to read the subtitles,you might miss the essential element of the film – the bare beauty ofthe imagery.
Anton Chekhov has said, “Remove everything that has no relevance to the story. Ifyou say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off.If
it’s not going to be fired, it shouldn’tbe hanging there.” In this compact and understated 82-minute movie about a novitiate in 1960s Poland, Pawlikowski removes not only the rifle, but also the nail itwas
hanging from, as well as the wall and the house.All that’s left is the scenery and your imagination.
Ida, an 18-year-old who was raised in a conventand knows nothing about her family, is not particularly interested in learning abouther roots.When Mother Superior tells her that she has an aunt, Ida agrees to
visit her only because she has to.After all, Ida’s allegiance is to Jesus – we see that from the very beginning ofthe film in a scene where Ida is cleaning his statue and helping to place it on a pedestal.
Standing in for family, Jesus provides comfort when Ida needs it.She kisses the cross on her chain when she has trouble sleeping. She relies on Jesus to watch over her as she is packing her suitcase. She
prays to him on her knees when she encounters his likeness during travel .
Nevertheless, Ida leaves the serenity of the convent for the chaos of the city. Rushing trains replace vast fields.Briskly walking passersby contrast with the novitiates who lie prostrate on the ground, praying.
Ida’s movement is significant here as well.In more than one scene, we witness her walking up stairs. She is shown ascending when she is following Mother Superior’s o rders – walking away from a meeting,
determined to visit the aunt, and walking toward the aunt’s apartment.
Wanda, the aunt, is an austere woman offew words. She feels no shame athaving a man in her bed, wearing a robe in the middle of the day or nothaving picked up Ida from the orphanage.Refusing to reveal
any details, Wanda speaks in curt statements that don’tinvite dialogue. Her responses bear a hintof annoyance at having been asked in the firstplace. It’s no surprise that Wanda chooses not to soften her
disclosure that her niece is “a Jewish nun.”
This jaded Nazi resistance fighter and Communist party member eschews emotion, acknowledging only hard facts.The consequences of her vices don’t concern Wanda;Pawlikowski illustrates that with every
pothole the drunken woman hits.As the two of them drive to the village in hopes oflearning what happened to Ida’s parents, Wanda feels it’s her duty to instill some sense into Ida by suggesting thatthe vows
she’s about to take would be more meaningful if she knew what she was sacrificing. The words stay with the niece.
Upon Ida’s disapproval of Wanda’s straying from their goal,the auntsets her straight by uttering the sole redundant statement ofthe movie, “I’m a slut, and you’re a little saint.” She’s m ocking Ida because she
thinks her niece’s imminentchoice will lead to a wasted life. Toward the end,Pawlikowski’s clichéd series of scenes prove that there are other ways to waste a life. The viewer wishes that Wanda had explored
Ida’s point of view further and gotten herselfto a nunnery.
However, the aunt is far from the type ofwoman who would listen to anyone, let alone God. Pas tprosecutor of “the enemies of the people,” Wanda demands answers despite her awareness ofthe fact that
Poles are terrified to expose anything out of fear that the Communists will punish those who helped the Jews. Sadly, the dire ctor does not clarify this point for audiences who might be unfamiliar with the
nuances of history and the fact that three million Jews were killed in Poland during the war.
Being around Wanda,Ida begins to inheritsome of her brutality. Even though Ida rips the Bible out of Wanda’s hands, as if the latter is notworthy and might contaminate it, Ida is starting to feel curious about
what else life has to offer.When she decides to listen to a jazz band performing in their hotel,she walks down a staircase for a change. It’s as if the director is hinting to us that this is the beginning ofher
descent into sin. Ida’s appreciation of a Coltrane cover is that rifle that’s about to go off.
Unlike the pretty jazz singer, who expresses herself through suggestive movements,loud makeup and high hair, Ida reveals her changing mindset with a barely perceptible smile upon being complimented.
Later, as she stands in front of a mirror, letting her hair down, she seems to be trying to see herself in the same lightas the man who gave her the compliment. She succeeds.
After her visit, Ida realizes that she’s no longer a naïve girl. In a telling succession of scenes,novitiates go about their monastic lifestyle in unison. As they’re eating,Ida suppresses a laugh – a misstep that
earns her a punishing look from the Mother Superior. It’s reminiscentof the look Ida gives Wanda when the aunt questions her devotion. As everyone prays, Ida stands out again, silently staring into space. We
realize Ida is wondering whether chastity, poverty and obedience are preferable to marriage, a house and children.

3. You’ll have to watch the film to find out what decision Ida makes.Unsurprisingly, the director lets us figure itout rather than show us a clear ending. He foreshadows the final scene with Symphony No. 41 – the
last one Mozart composed. Possibly, Pawlikowski chose this piece ofmusic to symbolize other lasts in this movie.
Need a Passover preparationpush?
Here are a few online Passover resources
Passover is a holiday that’s as much aboutdoubt as it is about certainty. In addition to the four questions, there are many others we ask ourselves during the celebration. Is it necessary to place pillows on our
chairs to eat in a reclining position since the slaves were forced to eat in a hurried manner? Should we abstain from certain foods to honor the holiday or rewrite the rules? Do we consider matzah to be the
bread of affliction or the taste offreedom? Must we teach the Exodus story to children because it’s an obligation or do we deem ita mitzvah? We can go on and on.Overwhelmed by uncertainty? Let the
resources belowprovide some answers.
I Left with Moses!
ileftwithmoses.weebly.com
This resource is great for families. Itcontains a slew of children’s videos,readings, activities and ritual explanations. Both parents and teachers will find numerous Passover resources on this newsite.While
the site prepares children for the Seder with its “Let’s Do!” and “Let’s Practice” pages,it’s more than justa tutorial. Its ultimate goal seems to be to guide children in their questto empathize with those less
fortunate.
Passov er children’s books
pjlibrary.org/Parents-and-Families/Reading-Tips-and-Resources/Jewish-Holidays/Passover/Passover-Books.aspx
PJ Library’s numerous Passover-related selections are for every age. If you read them, you’ll notice certain emerging themes. One thatstood out included illustrated popular songs,such as
The Afikomen Mambo and Dayenu. Another included the participation of cute animals, such as enthusiastic dinosaurs, hoppy bunnies, dog Moe,Kippi the Porcupine, Little Red Hen and Sheep Snowball. And
we can’t disregard the creation theme – creations of all sorts, including a miraculous cleaning machine, matzah, matzah balls, matzah ball boy, birthday cake and haroset, make their appearance.
Downloadable children’s stories
ajws.org/what_we_do/education/publications/holiday_resources/passover_resources.html
American Jewish World Service (AJWS), a human rights and developmentorganization,offers some downloadable Passover stories for kids,in case you don’thave the time to pop into a library. Written and
illustrated by Nechama Liss-Levinson, the books are for kindergarten, elementary and middle school students.
“When the Storm Came to Plink” is intended for ages 3 to 6 years old.Its theme is transformation – from disaster to development. Children learn about gradual liberation from oppression,similar to what the
Jews experienced after spending 40 years in the desert. It teaches the conceptof working together and addressing long-term needs.The book is meant to be read before drinking the four cups.
“Afikomen Hunt: Now and Later” is for children ages 7 to 11. It touches on the issue of immediate assistance versus long-term help. Meantto be read when the matzah is broken, this story mirrors the message
of the Passover one.
My Jewish Learning article on Haggadah options
myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Jewish_Holidays/Passover/The_Seder/Haggadah/New_Haggadot.shtml?p=0
Choosing a Haggadah is not as easy as it used to be. One can relate to Vladimir, the Robin Williams character in “Moscow on the Hudson,” who fain ts in a supermarket aisle, repeating “Coffee,coffee,coffee!”
shortly after arriving in the U.S.Sharonne Cohen writes an in-depth article on various versions. She includes historical footnotes and explains what to expect in different types of Haggadot.
The examples she brings up include The NewAmerican Haggadah, The Survivor’s Haggadah, The Wolloch Haggadah, the Shir Hama’alot LeDavid Haggadah, the Open Door Haggadah, A
Growing Haggadah, A Night ofQuestions, the Feast of Freedom, the Haggadah of the Roshei Yeshiva, the Family Participation Haggadah and the Liberated Haggadah.
Cohen also incorporates political Haggadot, such as Kibbutz, Universalist and Feminist, in her list.Additionally, the article explains the options for audiences that include recovering addicts and vegetarians.
Overall, more than 3,000 versions of Haggadot are in existence.
The Gateways Haggadah
jgateways.org/Resources/GatewaysHaggadah
Access to Jewish Education and Behrman House Publishers intended this particular Haggadah to ease Passover celebration for children with special needs. It contains more than 150 communication symbols
for songs and blessings, as well as a step-by-step Seder process captured in clear photos. Rebecca Redner, a curriculum specialist, created this resource to help not only special-needs kids, but also families
with young children who can’t read yet.
If you would like to order directly from the publisher, you will find the Haggadah here:behrmanhouse.com/store/product-sku/929
Six parts of the Seder Plate
reformjudaism.org/interactive-Seder-plate
Reform Judaism offers a thorough explanation of the Seder plate. On its interactive site, you can roll a mouse to find out the Hebrew name of the food and its significance. Learn what symbolism the foods
have, what substitutions are permissible and why we perform certain routines regarding food.
Food restrictions on Passover explained: hametz and kitniyot
reformjudaism.org/food-restrictions-passover-explained-chametz-and-kitniyot
Rabbi Eric Berk and Rabbi Paul Kipnes discuss permissible and forbidden foods.The article contemplates dilemmas regarding th e consumption of hametz, a symbol of pride and self-importance. Italso
explains the Ashkenazim’s avoidance of legumes and beans – kitniyot – and discusses the reasons why two groups ofrabbis nowpermit these foods on Passover.
Recipes for Passover
chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/32593/jewish/Recipes.htm

4. This site offers a vast array ofrecipes catered to the occasion.They lure with classic Passover foods,such as Matzah Balls, beguile with interesting salads, such as Baby Spinach and Portobello Mushroom,
and entice with healthful soups, such as Cabbage Cranberry. In addition to side dishes; meat, poultry and fish entrees; dairy and desserts, the site provides Passover cooking tips. Get some help selecting
wine, finding an allergy-free recipe and learning the nutrition facts of the dishes you consume.
IRINA MISSIURO is a writer and editorial consultant for The Jewish Voice.