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April 22, 2005
Remembering our ancestors
Pesach seder should acknowledge women in the Bible, as well as
men.
JOAN G. FRIEDMAN
On Passover, we drink four cups of wine. We also have four questions
and don't forget the four sons. It was a general problem, in past
years, that women were hidden in the story told on the seder evening.
No longer should we forget the four matriarchs: Sarah, Rebecca,
Rachel and Leah. Here is another group of four, and they should
be one of the reasons why we drink the four cups of wine. The cups
should also be dedicated to the noble women. Remembering them is
really not just a recent addition to the seder – they are an
important part of the Exodus because they performed a genuine, historic,
critical role in our liberation.
Look at what the female ancestors have done. They married and gave
birth to Jewish babies in the midst of the terrible times of slavery.
They mothered Moses. Miriam, with her tambourine, led in the singing
by the Red Sea. They did not give their jewelry to help in the making
of the golden calf. They believed in only one God.
"Let's remember Miriam, sister of Moses," said Rabbi Joel
Weintraub of Kesher Zion Synagogue in Reading, Penn. "In the
Haggadah, we don't even mention Miriam. After all, Miriam looked
after Moses throughout his youth. She watched over him and, as an
adult, accompanied him through the desert.
"Because of Miriam's magic well, the Midrash tells us the Jews
had water for the 40 years in the desert. God chose Miriam to provide
water [from her well] to the Jews throughout their wandering."
We have four cups of wine at the seder. The fifth cup is for Elijah.
Now we also have a sixth. We think of Miriam, her faith and closeness
to God symbolized by a Kiddush cup filled with pure water to remind
us of Miriam's well in the desert.
Moses was saved from death by Pharaoh's compassionate daughter,
Batya. Batya is a Righteous Gentile in our story and should be remembered.
"Other Righteous Gentiles include the two midwives who refused
to obey Pharaoh," said Weintraub. "When he decreed that
the male child should be put to death, the midwives refused to go
along with the prevailing anti-Semitism. They had the courage to
be responsible to a higher authority."
Weintraub also explained the legend behind our reason for having
an orange on our seder plate: "An Orthodox rabbi in Israel
was asked if women could go up on the bimah [pulpit]. The
Israeli rabbi answered, 'A woman belongs on the bimah like an orange
belongs on a seder plate.' "
We have had an orange on our seder plate for many years. In our
shul, women are counted. And to remind us of equality, we also place
an orange on the seder plate. It is said when the Red Sea parted,
Miriam took out her tambourine and led everyone in rejoicing. Some
people place a tambourine next to the seder plate.
As we look at the orange on our seder plates and Miriam's goblet
of water, we will offer our tribute to all women. And as we drink
the four cups of wine and consider the merits of Sarah, Rebecca,
Rachel and Leah, my wish is for you and yours to have a ziesen
(sweet) Pesach.
Many believe that the women of Exodus have not been given the full
measure of honor they deserve. If we can honor them with a goblet
of water and an orange, it will make our seder even more meaningful.
Since this is the holiday of remembrance, let us remember them!
Joan G. Friedman, former editor of Shalom newspaper,
can be reached at [email protected].
There was no bread used in making this story.
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