Pesach is a holiday that it is all about traditions. The traditions we grew up with in our family, the traditions we observed in the community we belong to, the traditions we built ourselves. We follow stringent or relaxed rules on Pesach because we grew up with, or we decided ourselves, at a certain moment to follow. But it always has to do with commun practices, because, in the end, we are celebrating those new or old traditions together - with our spouses, family and community.
This year, I had more than ever time to read about relatively new seder traditions - liberally oriented - and discovered two additions to the usual plate that would curiously explain later: the cup of Miriam and the orange.
Miriam´s Cup
Traditionally, we have on the table an extra cup filled with wine for Eliyahu ha Navi. Since the 1980s, the liberal/feminist circles encouraged to add an extra cup, for Miriam, the sister of Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon, the first High Priest in the Temple.
Miriam is considered a symbol of the important role of the women in the journey out of Egypt. `If it wasn`t for the rightousness of women of that generation, we would not have been redeemed from Egypt´ (Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 9b). Miriam´s well was the source of water during the wandering through the desert, therefore the cup filled with water.
The custom was started in the 1980s by the Boston Rosh Chodesh Group inspiring feminist denominations from all over the world.
The inclusion of the cup into the ritual leave a lot of place to flexibility. There is no special blessing said. It can be filled at the beginning of the seder or during the Maggid - when the story of the escape from Egypt is said; it can be passed among the participants to drink from it - or not - before the seder ends.
The orange
There are a lot of ´urban legends´ regarding the philosophy and the exact quote that prompted the introduction of the orange to the seder table. What is certified is that the initiative belongs to Susannah Heschel, daughter of Abraham Joshua Heschel, and a Jewish scholar in her own right. The orange is the symbol of the supressed voices and marginalized groups and populations: women, LGBT, orphans, widows, refugees.
Customary is to share a slice of the orange among the participants, say the blessing (ha-etz) and eat it.
Traditionally, we have on the table an extra cup filled with wine for Eliyahu ha Navi. Since the 1980s, the liberal/feminist circles encouraged to add an extra cup, for Miriam, the sister of Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon, the first High Priest in the Temple.
Miriam is considered a symbol of the important role of the women in the journey out of Egypt. `If it wasn`t for the rightousness of women of that generation, we would not have been redeemed from Egypt´ (Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 9b). Miriam´s well was the source of water during the wandering through the desert, therefore the cup filled with water.
The custom was started in the 1980s by the Boston Rosh Chodesh Group inspiring feminist denominations from all over the world.
The inclusion of the cup into the ritual leave a lot of place to flexibility. There is no special blessing said. It can be filled at the beginning of the seder or during the Maggid - when the story of the escape from Egypt is said; it can be passed among the participants to drink from it - or not - before the seder ends.
The orange
There are a lot of ´urban legends´ regarding the philosophy and the exact quote that prompted the introduction of the orange to the seder table. What is certified is that the initiative belongs to Susannah Heschel, daughter of Abraham Joshua Heschel, and a Jewish scholar in her own right. The orange is the symbol of the supressed voices and marginalized groups and populations: women, LGBT, orphans, widows, refugees.
Customary is to share a slice of the orange among the participants, say the blessing (ha-etz) and eat it.
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