Celebrating with Seders and sisterhood

Young Chang

The best piece of advice Tamar Brower, a longtime Passover observer,

can give to younger women perhaps less experienced in traditional matters

is: “Don’t be afraid of doing it.”

Yes, a Seder involves preparation, organization and, sometimes, lavish

cooking, but it’s an important celebration of the Jews’ exodus from Egypt

that women should be comfortable with, Brower said.

And for this Newport Beach resident, who is chairwoman of Temple Bat

Yahm’s Sisterhood, Passover is also a time to emphasize the historical

role of Miriam, Moses’ sister, as well as women who have contributed to

the freedom of Jews and non-Jews throughout history.

The Sisterhood will present its second annual Women’s Pre-Passover

Community Seder Wednesday evening, four days before the real day, at the

temple. The group invites women to attend, but will not be exclusive,

Brower said.

“It’s important for women to realize they have a role to play today,”

she said. “We are very much the focus of a family event -- it’s the women

in a home who organize the preparations for a Seder, who invite the

guests.”

Steve Rosen, an expert on Middle East affairs, will speak at the event

and organizers will conduct a Passover ceremony with some traditional

foods served when appropriate. Participants will take turns reading

portions of the Haggada, and everyone will sing songs by

singer/songwriter Debbie Friedman.

Women should understand why they need to know about the history of

Passover, and their role in it, Brower said. And the yearly tradition

should be something fun they can feel free to personalize.

“We encourage creativity within the Jewish tradition so we don’t

abandon the old, but enrich it,” she said.

The more generations, the better.

Last year, the Sisterhood had mothers and daughters attend the

pre-Seder together. Organizers encourage the same this year, saying three

generations of participants would be even more inspiring.

“It encourages women to feel good about themselves and makes a good

sisterhood feeling,” Brower said.

Sorrell Wayne, former president of the temple’s Sisterhood, visited

with Brower Thursday to prearrange a sample Seder. Between explaining the

different types of Seder plates available, she emphasized that, most of

all, Passover is a holiday of freedom for everyone.

Women should, of course, have the elements on the plate right --

bitter herbs, vegetables, bitter vegetables, charoset (an apple, nut,

spice and wine mixture), an egg and a shank bone -- but this is no reason

to fear organizing their first Seder.

“You can start at any point in your life,” Wayne said.

Brower added: “And it’s good to have the boys and girls help.”

FYI

WHAT: Second Annual Women’s Pre-Passover Community Seder

WHEN: 7 p.m. Wednesday

WHERE: Temple Bat Yahm’s social hall, 1011 Camelback St., Newport

Beach

COST: $10

CALL: (949) 644-1999.