7th Annual Womens Seder to Honor Women of Courage

The popular Passover event draws over 200 women, and will feature songs by famed Israeli songwriter Naomi Shemer. Attendees will bring items to donate to the Durham Crisis Response Center, which houses over 200 women and children yearly.

(PRWEB) April 14, 2005 -- As Edy Parker prepares to celebrate her seventh women's seder Sunday night, she is anticipating what new lessons she will gather from the songs, prayers, readings and rituals of this pre-Passover service and dinner.

"There is a tremendous amount of learning as well as spirituality, and each year the seder includes different things. It is always extremely interesting and uplifting," said Parker, of Chapel Hill. "The importance of women in Jewish history seems to be emphasized more than in many other forums."

The women's seder is an opportunity to recognize the trials and triumphs of Jewish women throughout history and in the present. Over 200 women are expected to attend the seventh annual Women's Seder at Judea Reform Congregation in Durham, with services led by Nancy Luberoff and Emily Glick. The event is sponsored by the Durham-Chapel Hill Jewish Federation, and its agencies Jewish Family Services and the Jewish Community Center.

Unlike traditional seders, which are held at the beginning of Passover to celebrate Moses freeing Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Sundays seder will focus on more than just men's roles in molding Jewish history, said event organizer Ellen Lorang. Figures such as Moses' sister Miriam are highlighted at the celebration.

"Traditionally, men ran the seder and women stayed in the kitchen," said Lorang, who works for the Jewish Federation at Program and Communications Director. "At the women's seder, this is our night, and we tell the story from a different point of view."

Women's seders have been growing in popularity around the world. Organizations in Israel, Britain, Canada and across the United States now sponsor women's seders.

The theme of this year's seder is "Women of Courage," recognizing women who have left their mark on history through acts of bravery and determination. Honorees include Henrietta Szold, founder of Hadassah, the National Womens Zionist organization. The Hadassah Medical Organization has been nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize for promoting peace in the Middle East and providing equal treatment to Israelis and Palestinians.

Women from all backgrounds will participate in the seder, from ages 4 through 97, including families representing 3 generations of women. Special guests will be staff and volunteers from the Durham Crisis Response Center, which is this years chosen project for charitable contributions. Attendees have been asked to bring an item to donate to the Durham shelter for women and children.

The festivities include many songs, as well as dancing with tambourines, which the Bible says Miriam and the women of Israel sang after crossing the sea in Exodus. A special Miriams cup is used at the beginning of the seder, into which each participants adds some water from her own goblet, symbolizing her own contribution to the community. Other symbols include an orange on the seder plate, to represent the inclusion of marginalized people within the Jewish community.

The event also provides the women at each table the opportunity to meet each other and share personal stories and experiences.

A new addition to the Women's Seder this year will be an art & gift show and sale preceding the seder, featuring Passover items from synagogue gift shops, and art by Jewish women artists.

All participants will receive a newly revised Haggadah to keep and use at their own seders. It contains many supplemental readings related to the role of women in Judaism. The Haggadah is dedicated to Naomi Shemer (1930-2004), the "First Lady of Israeli Song," who wrote the popular "Jerusalem of Gold."

The Women's Seder will be held on Sunday, April 17, 2005. Doors open at 5 p.m. Seder begins at 6:30 p.m. Location: Judea Reform Congregation, 1933 W. Cornwallis Rd., Durham. The seder is open to the public. Tickets are $15 at the door. or in advance. Call the Jewish Federation at (919) 489-5335 for more information.

This year, Passover begins the evening of April 23.

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