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From the Rabbi’s Desk

Last month, for the first time in a decade, CABI hosted a
congregational seder. It was, by almost every measure, a
big success. Well over one hundred participants enjoyed
a spirited Pesach celebration. It was good to see friends,
and to celebrate together.

And yet. . . I am still troubled by the idea of a community
seder, and I fear that its short-term benefits are outweighed
by the long-term costs. For over 3,500 years,
Passover has been a home-based holiday. The trend towards
congregational seders marks a radical departure
from that ancient tradition. And this change does not exist
in a vacuum; it is part of a larger shift from a do-ityourself,
home-centered Judaism to a kind of vicarious
practice where everything Jewish is served up by the
synagogue.
Why is this so troublesome? To begin with, home is the
place where the most important Jewish memories are
made—and Judaism is all about creating and passing
along memories. As Rabbi Jill Jacobs notes: "Though the
importance of synagogues cannot be minimized, the
home should remain the place where people first encounter
Jewish ritual, and where much of Jewish life takes
place: Passover Seders at grandparents' houses, lighting
Chanukah candles with parents, or eating Shabbat and
holiday meals with family." I would add that for those
who are not born Jewish, it is even more important to
establish Jewish home observances that will create new
memories. If we lose the Jewish home, we lose the heart
of our tradition.
I know that not everyone is able to put together a seder.
Some don't feel sufficiently knowledgeable; others lack
the family to share with or are not well. But none of these
factors need be an obstacle. I'd like to see CABI empower
our members to do their own seders by offering "how-to"
courses and seder-to-go kits with recipes, haggadot, and
everything else one needs to host. I'd also like to ensure
that those who don't have local family or close connections,
or who cannot do a seder for whatever reason, get
invited to someone else's seder. This gives our members
the opportunity to do the essential mitzvah of hachnassat-
orchim—offering hospitality to guests. I hope that our
ritual and adult learning committees will work with me to
make this possible in future years.