Women of Temple Chai hold annual Intergenerational Seder

Submitted by the Women of Temple Chai

The Women of Temple Chai held their Intergenerational Seder on April 4 with the goal to bring together women of all ages. The success was evident with more than 155 women in attendance, including temple members, grandmothers, mothers, daughters and friends. Women from other faiths were also present. This was the largest Seder the Women of Temple Chai has held to date.

Chaired by Louise Resnick and her committee, the evening included Temple Chai's Youth Choir, led by choir director, Gail Simon; and Rabbi Ilana Baden, who led the Haggadah reading with style and wit. The service even included a page co-authored by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Along with the traditional symbolic items on the Seder plate, an orange and potato peel were also present. The orange represented two things: first, that this holiday is one of freedom and liberation, and yet there are those women who feel marginalized and segmented and as unusual as an orange on a Seder plate. Second, the orange represents a symbol of women seeking greater acknowledgment, acceptance and position in Jewish life.

The potato peel is an important reminder that we must never forget the starvation and meaning of survival that was felt in the ghettos during World War II, when even a potato peel was a culinary treat and scavenged for. In secret, prisoners pooled their recollections of Seders past and etched them on dried potato skins, which they then ate for their Seder meal.

The beautiful service was followed by a delicious dinner and concluded with lively dancing plus the traditional hunt for the Afikomen. A great time was had by all who attended.

Temple Chai is at 1670 Checker Road, Long Grove. For more information, visit templechai.org.

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