How cool, Hil! That sounds really interesting.

Shir, oof! I have no idea how involved that is, but it sounds scary.

It appears that I volunteered to host the Seder this year. Sure, we'll be four people and they'll be friends and non of them is orthodox to the point of checking if the floor underneath the closets is clean, and yet I suddenly question my sanity.

Me too - we normally go to my mom's or my grandmother's but neither of them are hosting this year and my 11 year-old asked if we could do our own. It will just be immediate family + my sister, but I don't actually own a Haggadah, so I've been piecing one together at this DIY Haggadah site.

And searching up "modern liberal atheist Haggadah" gives you WAY MORE EXTRA THINGS to put on a Seder plate than I was previously aware of. Like I knew about the orange, but there's also a pine cone and a tomato?

And searching up "modern liberal atheist Haggadah" gives you WAY MORE EXTRA THINGS to put on a Seder plate than I was previously aware of. Like I knew about the orange, but there's also a pine cone and a tomato?

I have my own humanistic Haggadah (which I will update this year with some parts of the queer-feminist Haggadah I saw last night). I got rid of every violent part I could find and added stuff I liked about freedom and liberty and social responsibility. It's in Hebrew, but I'm happy to send it if it helps. And I'm sure that the Humanistic Judaism Society will have some suggestions...?

And oh, Lord. The Seder plate. Do I have one? I'll have to get one. And understand how to make it vegan. And in the spirit of the Seder I'm trying to arrange. Huh.

I have no idea how involved that is, but it sounds scary.

Deena, it's just a lot. Mentally. How else can you value being free, if you're not subjected in one evening to thousands of years of tradition and social expectations and norms?

I'm in the hot water heater club, although like "ATM machine" and "VIN number," I've mostly trained myself not to say it.

blackberry margaritas made with fresh berries, orange juice, hot peppers, and booze

I don't know, Laura. That there sounds like it might be the key to health.

Shir, I'm good for now, but thanks for the offer.

I'll have to get one. And understand how to make it vegan.

The usual suggestion I've seen is a beet instead of the shank bone, and either a small white eggplant or a wooden egg from a craft store in place of the egg. The beet can be roasted to symbolize the Temple sacrifice, plus roasting it makes it drip red juices, which kind of adds to the whole bloody symbolism thing.

I saw a suggestion this year to add Ruth's Cup to symbolize welcoming converts. That's in addition to Miriam's Cup. And Elijah's Cup, of course. And I think there was one other cup. We might be getting to the point of too many symbolic foods and cups.

I'm going to my aunt and uncle's, and they're Orthodox, so it's entirely the traditional seder.

The friend who has hosted seder for the past many years has moved to Las Vegas so I don't think I will partake this year. I should have flown out there and surprised her. Oh well, maybe next year.

Is "Next year in Las Vegas" the new "Next year in Jerusalem"?

That was my thought as well!

It is kinda odd since I am not Jewish, but my closest local friend for the last 15 years was so I was always invited to her celebrations and she and her family would come to my Christmas gathering. Now her mom has died, son moved to Philly, and she moved to Vegas. So our traditions are all askew.