Inside a Passover Seder

Susie and Ron Wolfson hug at the start of their Seder, attended by members of four generations of their family.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Ron Wolfson, second from left, a professor of education at American Jewish University, describes the Seder as “a talk-feast.” Passover celebrates the Israelites’ escape from slavery in Egypt.   (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Mark Spiegler wears a skullcap patterned to look like matzo, the unleavened bread integral to this Jewish holiday.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Seder attendees -- Bob Wolfson, standing, and, from left, Laurie Spiegler, Doug Wolfson and Avi Wolfson -- tie their hands and tape their mouths shut to simulate the oppression the Israelites felt as slaves.

[For the record, 4:10 p.m. April 19: An earlier version of this caption incorrectly spelled Laurie Spiegler’s first name as Lori and gave Avi Wolfson’s first name as Ari.]  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

The family acts out the 10 plagues that, according to the Bible, preceded the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt.   (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

The Passover Seder features storytelling, prayer, food and song.   (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Matzo ball soup waits to be served.   (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Ron and Susie Wolfson’s 1-year-old grandson Gabe Hall is the youngest Seder guest.   (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Avi Wolfson, left, and his father, Doug, open the door to welcome Elijah the prophet, a harbinger of the messiah they hope will heal the brokenness in the world.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

After the meal, the Seder hosts and guests open fortune cookies made of matzo.   (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)