The Art of Jewish Living: The Passover Seder (Art of Jewish Living Series) (Paperback)

by Ron Wolfson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
A creative 'how-to' for making the Seder a more meaningful experience. -- Michael Strassfeld, co-author of The Jewish Catalog

Product Description
Explains the concepts behind Passover ritual and ceremony in clear, easy-to-understand language, and guides you with step-by-step procedures for observance and preparing the home for the holiday. Easy-to-Follow Format: Using an innovative photo-documentary technique, real families describe in vivid images their own experiences with the Passover holiday. Easy-to-Read Hebrew Texts: The Haggadah texts are in Hebrew, English, and transliteration. An Abundance of Useful Information: A detailed description of the procedures involved in performing rituals is included, along with a section of practical questions and answers. Innovations offers imaginative ideas and customs for Seder celebration.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing; ist edition (September 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879045931
• ISBN-13: 978-1879045934
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,555,313 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars some useful stuff but often disappointing, April 4, 2007

By	Michael Lewyn (Jacksonville, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After the first 40 pages or so, I was ready to return this book to the library: it began with lots of what struck me as dumbed-down, icky-poo cuteness: a bunch of people telling the sort of family stories about grandma's matzoh balls that make Judaism seem like ancestor worship. And even the more serious part of the book is often blurry in describing the line between halachic obligation and quaint custom.

But once the book actually starts to explain the (possible) logic behind various parts of the Seder, it sometimes comes to life. In discussing the Maggid (the story of our enslavement in Egypt, etc.), the book points out that the Seder describes this story in four different ways (the four questions, the four children, a more detailed discussion of Jewish history, and finally an explanation of the ritual foods on the table), and that each version is meant to accommodate a different learning style. For example, the "Four Questions" version is designed to focus on specific practices, the "Four Children" is a more ideological discussion, the third discussion is more midrashic and less focused on the facts outlined by the Torah, and the last is the most concrete of all, a kind of hands-on learning experience.

And occasionally the book tells me something I don't already know: for example, that the Hillel sandwich really should be bitter herbs and matzo, and doesn't really need to contain charoset. Originally, the Hillel sandwich was meant to include the lamb sacrificed at Pesach (since Exodus 12:8 requires Passover to be celebrated with lamb, matzo and bitter herbs); however, the lamb can no longer be eaten due to the end of Temple sacrifices.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Pesach Resource, April 14, 2003

By	Jason A. Miller "Rabbi Jason Miller" (rabbijason.com) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

To help you get new ideas to enliven your seder each year, I recommend Wolfson's The Passover Seder (not a haggadah, but a great resource). Jewish Lights Publishers has just released an updated edition. This book contains suggestions from different families to make your seder an energetic production. Wolfson divides the seder into acts and scenes, with innovations for each section for you to put into practice. Even if you are not the seder leader, you are sure to benefit from this very helpful resource.

My favorite piece is entitled "How to Keep Them at the Table After They've Had Dessert." Wolfson also gives valuable suggestions for choosing a haggadah, making your home kosher, choosing your seder leader, and treating your seder guests. With so many families sharing their seder traditions, you're sure to walk away from this book with more new seder ideas than you could actually use over the course of decades.