Passover 2013

A year that will live on in infamy.  Yes 2013 was a new page in the passover book, or should I say haggadah.  This year I, Jared Pashko, led the seder.  

It all started sunday afternoon while I was talking to my mom.  We were having our usual pre-passover discussion about what we think each person gets out of the seder.  Mom was bummed, as was I, that so many people were coming for the food and not the fun.  I mean whats not to like about using scallions to whip each other and theatrics only topped by the best broadway play in our reenactment of the 10 plagues.  Well,  I guess thats neither here nor there.  One thing led to another and the topic came up, "Jared maybe you should lead the seder"  to which I replied "Maybe but I need to prep and I dont know if ill have time today" And sure enough I didn't.

Before I knew it people were here, we were celebrating with some libations in the kitchen and dad was asking everyone to take their seats.  Just as I got seated mom comes over to me and proclaims " Jared, you will be leading the seder tonight!"  What? Here? Now? with no warning.  But indeed I did without any preparation.

I think all will agree my seder was quite different from my Dad's, who does a great job.  I on the other hand read slow and steady not allowing the grumbling bellies of the participants to sway my conviction to complete the Passover seder.  As we pressed on, we read, and sang, and reenacted.  I do believe people had fun.  Each time the haggadah instructed us to a song sheet the whole table clamored together like a symphony and as we began, our biggest opera voices came to life with loud bellowing chants.  In hindsight that may have been the libations.  I think the little ones enjoyed the singing and festivities.  When we made it to the retelling of the passover story I employed an new storytelling strategy for the passover table, Madlib Live.  I would simply read through part of the story and pause when we got to an interesting part.  "Once upon a time in _________" "My belly" some one would shout out. And so on we went adding in our little joke correcting any mistakes for my younger cousins along the way.

Alas, with a few cups of wine, the 10 plagues, the retelling, singing, and who could forget the 4 questions we made it...Dinner time.  Yes as much as I tried most of my guests were still interested in only one thing.  Dinner!  As me and my mom sat at 1:00am finishing up the dishes and chatting our conversation seemed much like the pre-passover chat.  Looking forward to next year!