Passover Seder Tips

Any George Michael fans here? 😏

Yes, there are lots of obligations on this holiday. But almost everyone in the jewish community, regardless of affiliation, attends one.

"A 2013 Pew Research survey of Jewish Americans found that attending a Seder is an extremely common practice. While only 23% of U.S. Jews said they attend religious services at least monthly, 70% said they participated in a Seder last year. That includes 42% of Jews of no religion (those who consider themselves Jewish in some way, were raised Jewish or had a Jewish parent, but say they are atheist or agnostic or have no particular religion.)

Participation in a Seder is more common among Jewish Americans than any of the other practices we asked about, including fasting for all or part of Yom Kippur (53%) – often considered the holiest day of the Jewish calendar – and always or usually lighting Sabbath candles (23%)."

So yeah - that's why we are talking about it so much. And giving voice to the negative feelings that surround it for so many.

So show up...but do what you need to do to take care of yourself in the process.

Bubbe being a little too nosy? Get up from the table and take a walk outside so you don't end up screaming at her.

Your sister's pregnant belly is tormenting you? Sit on the other side of the table, so you don't have to watch her constantly rubbing her tummy.

Your nieces and nephews are running around the table screaming and you feel a migraine coming on? Go lay down on the couch in the basement.

Your mother keeps asking you to help in the kitchen because you don't have "anyone else to look after right now?" Help for the first course, but then loudly announce that at the table, and assign subsequent courses to other people saying, "I left Egypt long ago, so I'm not being a slave any more" while you wink.

You deserve some freedom too.