Passover is the Festival of Freedom in the Jewish community worldwide. More than any other holiday, it symbolizes what it means to be Jewish: family, food, and fun coupled with an obligation to pass on their story to future generations.
Seder Stories contains the memories of childhood Seders from 101 Jewish people. Some of them are famous, like Rabbi Harold Kushner and attorney Alan Dershowitz. Others are famous only within their circle of friends and family. Some of the stories are funny, some poignant, some thought provoking and worth reading. All of them are charming.
Seder Stories is a gift book filled with delightful anecdotes of cleaning house, eating hard matzo balls, and milking kosher cows. Following an introduction that gently (and briefly) reviews the background and importance of the major Passover traditions, the eight chapters that follow are filled with as many as a dozen stories revolving around a central theme. Each story is told in the first person and retains the storyteller's voice. Stories come from folks of all ages, many professions, and all parts of the United States.
"What I remember about Seders when I was a child is the never-ending food -- the brisket, the matzo balls, the killer horseradish," writes Rips. "What my children remember about their Seders is Elijah, in person, striding in the door, loudly playing 'Eliyahu' on the trumpet, dressed head to toe in trend-setting dark brown polyester with a rope belt to accentuate the ensemble. Over the top? Maybe. But Passover is one time of the year when it seems appropriate to go all out."
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
Learn about, and celebrate, Passover:
Reviewed by Karrie Grobben for RebeccasReads (6/08) From its opening quote: "They tried to kill us, we won, let's eat," to its description of a Passover spent with Marlon Brando, Seder Stories by Nancy Rips is a remarkable, joyful, funny and sometimes poignant celebration of the Festival of Freedom. Passover is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the Jews' freedom from slavery in Egypt but the spirit of the holiday encompasses so much more. It gives thanks for the presence of family and friends.... more info
Passover short stories:
Reviewed by Norma Freimark for Reader Views (5/08) "Seder Stories" by Nancy Rips is a square-shaped book. It is a great book to read and it also makes a great Passover hostess gift if you are going to a Seder. It is filled with 101 wonderful delightful short stories about Passover, preparing for Passover, and Passover Seders on 187 pages from actors, actresses, comedians, Rabbi's, famous Jewish people and everyday people that celebrate Passover in a variety of ways. The stories in "Seder Stories"... more info
Filled with 101 'memories' in the form of stories, anecdotes, blurbs, and more:
Passover is the annual celebration to celebrate Jewish Freedom, and by far one of the most important days on the Jewish calendar. "Seder Stories: Passover Thoughts on Food, Family, & Freedom" is filled with 101 'memories' in the form of stories, anecdotes, blurbs, and more, broken into four segments representing a broad theme related to the Jewish celebration of freedom for each. Focusing on every part of the celebration, "Seder Stories: Passover Thoughts on Food, Family, & Freedom" is highly... more info
Something for all ages and all branches of Judaism:
I love this book!! What makes it special is the variety of memories shared by a variety of people from all walks of Judaism, and folks of all ages, which makes this a book that has something for all ages. Love the size of the book, and its layout, and for someone who is a bibliophile I loved the font (print) used which makes the book easy to read. Am so happy to have the book in my home library.
