(Joe_Cool also had a similar idea here.)
I am a member of a small Bible Study group who is interested in learning / studying more about Passover. More specifically we are somewhat interested in the idea of actually having a Passover Feast at someone’s home. I volunteered for the research portion and started my research and have amassed 100 plus pages of documentation from various websites (Jewish, Christian, and general info type sites) concerning Passover. From my research I think I have a pretty good grip in the Seder plate and some rather detailed instructions on preparing for Passover from http://www.everythingjewish.com/Pesach/Pesach_Laws.htm, http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm, and a more simplified version from http://biblicalholidays.com/Passover/celebrating_passover.htm but I am interested in getting The Straight Dope from some of our Jewish Dopers. Are there any resources anyone could suggest that contain an accurate description of the Passover Feast and the meanings of the various parts? Are there other resources available that that might be helpful? For our purposes there will most likely be no children involved and most of the preparation will be kept to minimum. Also any personal opinions or experiences would be greatly appreciated.
I would also be interested in opinions on http://tckillian.com:8080/greg/haggada.html and http://www.roshpinah.org/passover/.
So far the best advice has been from http://biblicalholidays.com/Passover/celebrating_passover.htm that says “The one thing you should not do is get all bound up in “doing it right” and ruin the dinner. That would defeat the purpose. Pray and trust God to lead you. Passover was reintroduced by Hezekiah in Bible times (Numbers 9). They were unable to follow every step outlined in Leviticus; however, God knew their hearts. He had grace towards them and healed their people.”
Times like this I really appreciate kind people like zev_steinhardt and cmkeller.
The main thing you need that you don’t seem to have is a Passover Haggadah. A Haggadah is sort of a prayerbook that tells you exactly (step-by-step) how to proceed with the seder (seder – say-der – is the correct term for the Passover meal). It includes commentaries in addition to prayers, explanations, and instructions. You should find one you like (there are traditional Haggadahs, feminist Haggadahs, Communist Haggadahs, etc.) and make a copy available to every person at the seder.
However, let me suggest to you that you contact a local synagogue and find out if they are having a group seder which you could join. Many synogogues do this (for people without families nearby, etc.) and it is considered a good deed to tell the story of Passover to anyone who is interested, regardless of their faith.* Most Reform synogogues would welcome you, and conduct the seder in a manner which you would easily be able to follow (ie mainly in English).
Passover is a time for teaching and storytelling and IMHO it is never out of line to ask questions as long as someone isn’t currently speaking part of the service.
Good luck!
*my mom is having 19 people for Passover and only 7 are Jewish.
Ahem. ;j
I used Google and found the following:
[ul][li]Chabad’s Passover Companion[/li][li]Here is a book by Shimon Apisdorf called The Passover Companion. It, and the other books he’s writter, are all very good.[/ul][/li]
Also, Hello Again is on the right track - you need a Haggadah. If you’re looking for an accesible and authentic english text, I’d use the english portion of the Artscroll Haggadah, which you can find here.
And, along the same lines as Hello Again’s second suggestion, I’d humbly recommend you find a local Orthodox synagogue and contact their Rabbi. I am certain he could locate you a family willing to open their doors. Start with the Synagogue Directory of the Orthodox Union, here.
The main thing you need that you don’t seem to have is a Passover Haggadah. A Haggadah is sort of a prayerbook that tells you exactly (step-by-step) how to proceed with the seder (seder – say-der – is the correct term for the Passover meal). It includes commentaries in addition to prayers, explanations, and instructions. You should find one you like (there are traditional Haggadahs, feminist Haggadahs, Communist Haggadahs, etc.) and make a copy available to every person at the seder.
However, let me suggest to you that you contact a local synagogue and find out if they are having a group seder which you could join. Many synogogues do this (for people without families nearby, etc.) and it is considered a good deed to tell the story of Passover to anyone who is interested, regardless of their faith.* Most Reform synogogues would welcome you, and conduct the seder in a manner which you would easily be able to follow (ie mainly in English).
Passover is a time for teaching and storytelling and IMHO it is never out of line to ask questions as long as someone isn’t currently speaking part of the service.
Good luck!
*my mom is having 19 people for Passover and only 7 are Jewish.
The First and Second Jewish Book of Why is a nifty little resource for some of the “nagging” questions. Like, “why do some Jews allow corn during Passover and others do not?”
I agree with Hello an Dim.
Every Haggadah I’ve ever heard used includes “He that is hungry, come let him eat” or a variation thereof. I’ve had various Christian friends at Mom’s place to learn about Passover and have some nice brisket.
They also inlcude the four sons. The wise son shows his wisdom by asking "These symbols and ceremonies what are their meanings and origins?". So get an invite and ask.
What? And we’re not appreciated the rest of the time? 
Seriously, I don’t really have anything to add to what was said above. A Hagaddah is what you need. If you are having difficulty finding one, I might be able to point you in the right direction. Feel free to drop an email if you so wish.
Zev Steinhardt
If there is a Jewish bookstore near you, there will be plenty of Haggadot to choose from. I suggest you find one that includes a description of the rituals and an explanation as well.
We use “Passover Haggadah, The Feast of Freedom” by the Rabbinical Assembly. Good English translations, transliterations of some of the Hebrew, and explanations of both HOW to do the rituals and WHY.
Good luck.
An alternative for you might be to see if there is someone Jewish who is familiar with the seder who might lead it for you… perhaps on a different night, as a sort of “model” seder. This year, for instance, the seders are Wednesday night and THursday night, perhaps someone Jewish and knowledgable will lead a Friday night “special” seder for you.
I concur with what has already been written here; I’m only chiming in at all because I was mentioned by name and didn’t want the OP to feel I was ignoring him.
Enjoy your Seder!
You would know better than I, Dex, but wouldn’t that mean that the cleanup and related chores would fall on the Sabbath?
Cleanup is not a prohibited activity on Sabbath, Chronos, under Jewish law. (The question of what activities ARE considered “work” and prohibited is more than I want to get into here.)
BTW, I understand (Newsweek reports) that a recent article in the Saudi press describes the Passover feast as requiring the blood of a Christian or Muslim baby. Sigh. Amazing how far we have come and yet how far we have to go.
That article was retracted and condemned by the editor of the paper (claims he was “out of town” and that it was “totally unworthy of publication.”) An interesting development. Heard the report on BBC radio.
Curious to know whether the “retraction” was printed in the Saudi paper, or was just a comment he made to the western journalists. Generally, my impression is that the Saudi press is VERY tightly controlled.
Besides, the damage is done. The Chicago Tribune ran an editorial a few weeks ago, the headline accused Israeli Prime Minsiter Sharon of having ordered civilian massacres. A few days later, a teeeeny tiny little paragraph with no headline said, “We were in error when we said that Sharon…” The wrongful accusation was in inch high letters. The entire paragraph of “retraction” was barely an inch of column.
OK, sorry, this is a hijack… I had intended the comments to be a reminder that the accusation of blood-rituals did not die with the Middle Ages.
Just wanted to with the gang a Chag Kasher Ve’Sameach!
;j
Barnes and Noble has a rather good selection of Passover haggadahs. Check the Judaica section. My family uses A Passover Haggadah illustrated by Leonard Baskin and prepared by the Central Conference of American Rabbis. It’s pretty, easy to follow, and has a pretty good explanation of the different parts of the seder.
We’ve also got the Haggadah of Passover, copyright 1966. I forget where we got these, but we use them when we have the seder at our house.
Robin
I’m curious as to what you ended up doing and how it worked out. Care to share?