You Shall Tell Your Daughter (2): Charoset March 17, 2013
Posted by Keren Fite in Jewish Holidays, Passover.Tags: applet tree, charoset, song of songs, women
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Women are obliged to drink four cups and perform all the laws of the Seder because they took part in the miracle and redemption. Moses is ordered “thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob.” Rabbi Tahlifa of Caesarea interprets that Moses is obliged to tell the women first, for “if I do not call upon the women first they will nullify the torah” (Exodus Rabbah)
There are two interpretations for the custom of eating charoset at the Seder table. Rabbi Yohanan says, in memory of the mortar the Israelite slaves used to paste the bricks. Rabbi Levi says, in memory of the apple. Rashi interprets, “for they gave birth to sons with no pain so the Egyptians will not know them, as it was written ‘under the apple-tree I awakened thee'”
At the Seder table take some charoset and say together:
Why do we eat charoset? Because of women who are redeemed from Egypt today. From now on, in every generation, let every woman see herself as if she was redeemed from Egypt:
“Thou shall tell your daughter,
On that day it is for the sake of this that God did for me when I left Egypt”*
*Adapted from Yalta’s Women Seder
You Shall Tell Your Daughter (1): Miriam Cup March 17, 2013
Posted by Keren Fite in Passover.Tags: living water, miriam cup, passover, women
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Miriam, Moses’ sister, was a prophet in her own right. According to tradition, she predicted Moses’ birth and his role as redeemer of Israel: "a son you shall have my mother and he will deliver Israel." Miriam led the women’s dance after the miraculous crossing of the Red sea. Thanks to Miriam’s righteousness a wondrous well of living water followed the people of Israel during their forty years of wandering in the desert.
Miriam represents life, renewal and female leadership. In recent years a new tradition evolved: adding Miriam Cup to the Seder table.
How to Create Your Own Miriam Cup
Creating your own Miriam Cup is a wonderful occasion of renewal and creativity.
What you need:
- Glass wine glasses
- Glass paint
- Paint brushes
- Good will and enthusiasm
While creating your own Miriam Cup tell the stories of Miriam, Yocheved, Pharaoh’s daughter, Shifra and Puah – the women that take part in the Israelites redemption from Egypt.
During the Seder Ritual
Pour fresh waters into Miriam’s Cup and say
זֹאת כּוֹס מִרְיָם, כּוֹס מַיִם חַיִּים, זֵכֶר לִיצִיאַת מִצְרָיִם
This is Miriam’s Cup, a cup of living water,
in memory of our redemption from Egypt
Since this is a new tradition there are several options for incorporating Miriam’s Cup in the Seder. Miriam’s Cup can be introduced either in the beginning of the Seder, or after counting the ten plagues, or at the end of the Seder parallel to Elijah’s Cup.
