« | Home | »

Do You Have To Be A Matzochist To Celebrate Passover?

Topics: Holidays | 3 CommentsBy admin | March 20, 2010

In spite of having tons of Jewish friends, they never invite me to Passover dinner. Maybe I shouldn’t complain. The “bread of affliction” doesn’t sound very tasty.


Be your own wrathful old testament
deity with the 10 Plagues Toy Set

I have a strange tendency to get things backwards. As a white Anglo Saxon male, I should be all set. I should just go get my MBA and take the position I don’t deserve at the “rich white guy club” that I could have just for not being black, Mexican, a lesbian, or whatever. But no. I have to go through life shunning my entitlement and wallowing in my fascination with other cultures. Which has been fun, for the record. As a result of my open-mindedness and rejection of my glass ceilingless birthright, I’ve been the manager and only white guy at a Chinese restaurant, been awarded “honorary gay person” status by both genders, and been the only white guy in a funk trio briefly. But one thing that has passed me over repeatedly is – ironically – Passover dinner. I have lots of Jewish friends, but only one of them has invited me to Seder, and she was only Jewish because her mom converted, so things felt a little “by the booky”, more like a Sesame Street “hey kids, let’s look at how the Jewish people live” evening instead of a natural holiday experience. So Passover remains a mystery to me. If you read the rather dryly factual Wikipedia entry, it sounds like a grisly, depressive event to celebrate. Slavery, a wrathful, old testament deity inflicting plagues and killing firstborn children, and lambs’ blood being smeared on doorways. Scary stuff. So hey, if you’re Jewish, give me a ring this year. I’m keeping the evening open. I don’t think I’ll be hanging around for all seven days though.

If you’re as ill-informed as I am, you might want to buy the Passover Box of Questions Card Set. Just don’t eat them. In spite of their appearance, I’m pretty sure they’re not pesachdik.

The KidKraft Passover Set for Kids claims it introduces the traditions of Passover in a fun, educational, and age-appropriate manner. The included wine bottle makes me wonder what age.

Read Comments

  1. Posted by Stella on 03.21.10 9:16 am

    I frickin’ love Seder. One of my favourite holidays. So if you find someone who does it up right, who invites you, see if you can bring a shiksa friend who will joyously sing the freedom songs and happily eat the bitter herbs.

  2. Posted by Naomi on 03.21.10 2:25 pm

    Not a big fan of you describing Passover dinner (seder) as grisly. Do you put down every religion’s traditions that you haven’t been invited to? Personally, I have never had seder at my house WITHOUT non-Jews, even before I married one. I would love to bring you with to the one we’re attending–it’s only 8 hours’ drive, wanna come? You’re more than welcome.

  3. Posted by admin on 03.21.10 2:40 pm

    Naomi, I’d suggest you read the piece more carefully before going on the offensive. Here, I’ll help you:

    “If you read the rather dryly factual Wikipedia entry, it sounds like a grisly, depressive event to celebrate. Slavery, a wrathful, old testament deity inflicting plagues and killing firstborn children, and lambs’ blood being smeared on doorways. Scary stuff.”

    I never suggested the celebration ITSELF is such. I think one could hardly argue that the events surrounding the emancipation of the Jews from slavery in Egypt could be described as anything BUT unpleasant.

    And thanks for the invite. Ordinarily I’d be delighted to join you for dinner, but you already sound a little grumpy so I think I’ll pass ;)