I am feeling like a slacker. I was at a meeting recently with several other Jewish women. One said “I made my chicken soup today. ”
We all knew what she meant. She was getting her food ready for Pesach. Wow. I am always amazed at those who start cooking over a week in advance.
I have not even started cooking. I have started cleaning. And I did start buying matzah and other staples. But cooking. No!
I really felt badly when the numbers started coming. 30, 25, 24. I am only having 14 and only second night. First night I am going to a friend who is hosting 45 people. All of these women either empty their family rooms of all furniture or set the Seder up in their basements. With just 14, I can use my dining room. I am a Pesach slacker!
2014 Passover Seder.
However we all agreed that under 25 is the best number for Seder. Large enough to be inclusive but not so big you feel overwhelmed.
There is a definite learning experience that comes with making a Seder. I think it is Passover Seder that creates the ability for most Jewish mothers to easily have extra people for dinner. After preparing a Seder any other meal is simply a breeze. After cleaning, chopping, cooking and creating the festive Seder meal, nothing can faze me.
We learn so young. I cannot remember the first time I helped prepare for a Seder. I learned to make charosets as a small child. I loved sprinkling the cinnamon into the mixture. There are a few recipes that were only pulled out for Pesach. Most we could just cook as we went along. It was a brain memory. But at the time for the Seder all was in order.
We always did one Seder with my Dad’s family when I was little. It was at my Uncle Bernie and Aunt Mickey’s house after my grandmother could no longer fit us all in. And we did the second seder at my Mother’s family. Sometimes Mom made it, sometimes my Aunt Paula and Uncle Stanley. But we all knew the routine. And everyone brought something to the table.
I have friends who ask me how I can make a party or dinner without days of planning? And I am surprised. Without the need to make charosets, Maror, five courses and all the other special foods demanded for the Seder meal, any other dinner creates no anxiety. It just easily occurs.
Like so many, I always prepare more food than we need. I never want anyone to go hungry and there always has to be enough for one more, or two, if needed.
Preparing the Pesach Seders taught me how to organize, use my time wisely, plan for the future and make my guests comfortable while running an extraordinary busy meal. We learn to have everything set to go and how to effectively clean between courses and after the meal.
I have a special scrapper just to get the matzah crumbs off the table!
Perhaps I am not a Passover slacker! My Seder meal will be ready when we need it as it has been in the past and will be in the future.
zicharonot 