"These
are the set times of the LORD, the sacred
occasions, which you shall celebrate each at its
appointed time." - Leviticus 23:4
occasions, which you shall celebrate each at its
appointed time." - Leviticus 23:4
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| Annie and Max Weiss Family. Simon is in the back row, in the light colored suit. |
Claire Chase Weiss, my husband’s grandmother, told us once of going to her mother in law’s home for Passover meals with her husband, Simon. It would be nice to know more about those Pesach (Passover) Celebrations in the Weiss Family.
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| Simon Weiss, of Jewish descent, was Mark's grandfather. |
Simon, in his adult life, was not a
practicing Jew, but his parents, especially his mother, Annie Wahrhaftig Weiss,
was a devout orthodox Jew.
Claire and Simon’s oldest
son, David S. Weiss would bring home matzo (unleavened bread) at Passover time
in Portland, Oregon, but my husband, Mark, didn’t really understand why.
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| Head table had a place set for Elijah, the Prophet on the right of this picture. |
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| Each table had a Seder Plate, a plate of unleavened bread, salt water and parsley, and bowl of water for washing. |
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| Waiting for the Seder to begin. |
On Sunday, March 27th, we hosted our first Young Single Adult Passover with 117 in attendance from the 46th Ward in the Logan, Utah LDS YSA 6th Stake. It required an enormous amount of effort to set it up. We were there from 3:00 to 9:30 p.m. and many hours preparation on Saturday as well. Feedback has been positive and it was obvious that all had a fun time.
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| Part of our wonderful YSA 46th Ward kitchen crew! This event required lots of help. |
My husband, Mark Weiss, was the leader for the Seder and sat in the soft
chair. He followed the script outlined
in our Haggadah. Thankfully, as part of our preparation, we
had the opportunity of being part of a Passover Seder the Friday before our
Sunday evening event. Mark Weiss had a
refresher course from Craig and Sandy Ostler who have hosted similar events
many times. It was wonderful to share in
the symbolism of what we believe was the “Last Supper” of Jesus Christ.
Another table set for passover.
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| Passover seder at Ostler home. |
I found myself
thinking of the Max and Annie Weiss family in Poland/Belarus and wondered what
it must have been like for them in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Below
is a great article that explains the Passover Preparations of long ago. I hope you will find it interesting.
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| Buffet service of the meal. |
Passover begins at
sundown on Friday, April 3, 2015. May
you enjoy thinking of our ancestors and the ritual that evoked deep gratitude
for freedom from slavery.
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| Head table. 2nd Counselor in the Bishopric, Todd Condie, wore his prayer shawl and yamaka. |
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| We had 117 in attendance. |
Lizhensk (The synagogue, people, and events)
Lezajsk, Poland
by
Y. Rotman
Holidays and Festivals
Passover Preparations
After Purim, the preparations for and anticipation of Passover began. The sun began to shine in the streets. The snow began to melt, and people began to clear out their humble homes. They would throw out straw mattresses, old beds, heavy engraved items, and worn out books. They would clean and hang up their old clothes to air out. They would prepare to whitewash and clean out their houses.
They would bring whitewash from the pit of Zshishele Greenberg or Yosef Guzik, and some paint from Shmuel Langzam, for they would not simply whitewash, but would add some colored paint and decorate the house with various designs and flowers, in modern fashion. Outside, small feathers flew around that came out of the blankets and pillows that were being aired out on the windowsills.
The stalls in the marketplace began to stock fattened geese. They would slaughter them, to prepare rich gourmet food for the festival of the spring. The aroma of frying oil wafted from the houses, the basements were filled with potatoes, the glassmakers went door to door and sold glass pots and bottles to store home made wine. They would make the wine from raisins. Black raisins could be more easily obtained, they were cheaper, however the white ones were larger and sweeter. Everyone prepared according to his means. They would bring down boards, knives, and Kosher Passover utensils from the roofs. Every family cut up raisins. The toddlers would sneak some of the raisins, eat them and choke on the pits.
The gentiles brought wagons laden with straw to refill mattresses with fresh straw, and the old straw would be put into the old patched mattresses.
Bakers Kashered their ovens[5] and prepared them for the baking of Matzot. They hired women as kneeders, removers of Matza from the ovens, and rollers of Matza. The positions that received the highest salary were the remover of Matza from the ovens, and the shaper of the Matza. People would set an appointment with the baker as to when their Matza was to be baked, and they would bring their flour beforehand to the baker, wish each other best wishes and that they should be well for the next year...
The family members would also wish each other a good year. Everyone was busy with the baking of their Matza, and the bakers would bless the customers and wait for the numbered coins, as everyone came to take their Matza.
The kneaders and rollers would be scratched occasionally with broken glass and warned “to roll the Matza very thin”. One would shout “roll it thinner”, and the other would shout “pour more water”, the one who puts the Matza in the oven would shout “put the Matza in the oven”, and the baker would shout “the fire is too high”. The children would see themselves as part of this activity and would shout “wafer-like Matzot with many indentations”.
A giant baker's basket would be lowered from the dusty roof. It would be cleaned, and the Matzot would be placed in it so that they would not break. They would quickly be weighed, and the porters would hurry and carry them to the owners. The owners would receive their Matzot and shout “good year, good year” to the porters.
Passover Arrives
What would be considered a menial task all year is considered an honor on the eve of Passover. In the night prior to the day before Passover, people would go toward the well in song in order to draw the water for the baking of Matza, as it is said “they run to where the Matza water is”.
On the next day, on the eve of Passover they kneed their dough by hand and sing songs, Hallel, Psalms, as they baked their Matzot[6]. The Hassidim would only eat Matzot that were baked on the eve of Passover.
The houses were spotless, and the raisins were already squeezed so that there would be an abundance of wine.
After Mincha and Maariv of the evening prior to the day before Passover, they would go about with large wax candles, goose feathers that would serve as a brush, and they would search every corner and crack in the house. The remainder of the leaven (Chometz) would be swept into a spoon, and the spoon would be covered with a linen net so that the crumbs would not fall from it. The next day they would go to the Mikva in order to burn the Chometz.
There was a procession toward the Mikva: One went to immerse his new vessels for Passover, for without this immersion they would not be considered fit for use, and others would go with older utensils in order to purge them in the boiler of the Mikva. The boiler was ignited the night before for this purpose.
The tables, kitchen counters and closet shelves would be covered with new liners, nice and clean.
The ovens were cleaned with cleanser, and then glowed with a hot fire. The Passover utensils were brought down from the roof and the Chometz vessels were brought up to the roof for the duration of the eight days.
After the morning prayers, the first-born would be redeemed from their fast[7], and the joyous and glorious festival began to appear. Everyone was attired in their new festival clothes, the generally dimly lit rooms were now lit with bright oil lamps and torches, and the table was covered with a white tablecloth and chairs for reclining. Children who lived out of town came home to be with grandparents or parents on the night of the Seder. The tables were set spaciously; they were adorned with a large Seder[8] plate; a large Matza plate; wine glasses of various colors; and Haggadas of various sizes which were passed on from generation to generation, enhanced by various commentaries and illuminated with various illustrations, embroidered covers and beautiful borders.
People ran around in a hustle, were busy, and everyone waited for the night of the Seder with awe and trepidation. They concerned themselves with who would be given the role of asking the questions, and worried that the children would not get mixed up in the asking of their questions. The fathers worried that they should not get mixed up with when to wash hands and when not to wash hands. The mothers worried that the Seder meal would not be spoiled. Everyone waited...
“Ma Nishtana” brought joy to the heart, as well as the traditional tears – because of blood libels, frights, evil decrees, etc. The tricksters opened the doors of the houses during the recital of “Shefoch Chamatcha” and placed into the house a small straw manikin like a scarecrow, dressed up as Elijah, and stole and drank the Cup of Elijah.
There were homes where the Seder continued until 1:00 AM or later. The children took naps during the day so that they would be able to stay up for the long, drawn out Seder, however the eyes shut nevertheless, and heads nodded backwards. “Woe to the child who falls asleep”, as the children were afraid of the chastisement of their father. The mother would take her young children into a separate room to doze off so “father would not be aware”.
The father was like a king in his white clothes. He ate while reclining and discoursed without stopping, in words that only he, as a scholar, could understand.
Everyone fixed his or her eyes upon him.
He would often read the Yiddish commentary of the Haggada so that the family members including the women would also understand. The wife did everything according to the wishes of the king.
This was the only time during the year when the father would sit as a king at the table and set out the courses of food, and give command as to when to eat and when not to eat, when to cover the Matza and when not to cover the Matza, when to drink the wine. On this occasion the mother, generally the master of the table, would wait for his command.
After Purim, the preparations for and anticipation of Passover began. The sun began to shine in the streets. The snow began to melt, and people began to clear out their humble homes. They would throw out straw mattresses, old beds, heavy engraved items, and worn out books. They would clean and hang up their old clothes to air out. They would prepare to whitewash and clean out their houses.
They would bring whitewash from the pit of Zshishele Greenberg or Yosef Guzik, and some paint from Shmuel Langzam, for they would not simply whitewash, but would add some colored paint and decorate the house with various designs and flowers, in modern fashion. Outside, small feathers flew around that came out of the blankets and pillows that were being aired out on the windowsills.
The stalls in the marketplace began to stock fattened geese. They would slaughter them, to prepare rich gourmet food for the festival of the spring. The aroma of frying oil wafted from the houses, the basements were filled with potatoes, the glassmakers went door to door and sold glass pots and bottles to store home made wine. They would make the wine from raisins. Black raisins could be more easily obtained, they were cheaper, however the white ones were larger and sweeter. Everyone prepared according to his means. They would bring down boards, knives, and Kosher Passover utensils from the roofs. Every family cut up raisins. The toddlers would sneak some of the raisins, eat them and choke on the pits.
The gentiles brought wagons laden with straw to refill mattresses with fresh straw, and the old straw would be put into the old patched mattresses.
Bakers Kashered their ovens[5] and prepared them for the baking of Matzot. They hired women as kneeders, removers of Matza from the ovens, and rollers of Matza. The positions that received the highest salary were the remover of Matza from the ovens, and the shaper of the Matza. People would set an appointment with the baker as to when their Matza was to be baked, and they would bring their flour beforehand to the baker, wish each other best wishes and that they should be well for the next year...
The family members would also wish each other a good year. Everyone was busy with the baking of their Matza, and the bakers would bless the customers and wait for the numbered coins, as everyone came to take their Matza.
The kneaders and rollers would be scratched occasionally with broken glass and warned “to roll the Matza very thin”. One would shout “roll it thinner”, and the other would shout “pour more water”, the one who puts the Matza in the oven would shout “put the Matza in the oven”, and the baker would shout “the fire is too high”. The children would see themselves as part of this activity and would shout “wafer-like Matzot with many indentations”.
A giant baker's basket would be lowered from the dusty roof. It would be cleaned, and the Matzot would be placed in it so that they would not break. They would quickly be weighed, and the porters would hurry and carry them to the owners. The owners would receive their Matzot and shout “good year, good year” to the porters.
Passover Arrives
What would be considered a menial task all year is considered an honor on the eve of Passover. In the night prior to the day before Passover, people would go toward the well in song in order to draw the water for the baking of Matza, as it is said “they run to where the Matza water is”.
On the next day, on the eve of Passover they kneed their dough by hand and sing songs, Hallel, Psalms, as they baked their Matzot[6]. The Hassidim would only eat Matzot that were baked on the eve of Passover.
The houses were spotless, and the raisins were already squeezed so that there would be an abundance of wine.
After Mincha and Maariv of the evening prior to the day before Passover, they would go about with large wax candles, goose feathers that would serve as a brush, and they would search every corner and crack in the house. The remainder of the leaven (Chometz) would be swept into a spoon, and the spoon would be covered with a linen net so that the crumbs would not fall from it. The next day they would go to the Mikva in order to burn the Chometz.
There was a procession toward the Mikva: One went to immerse his new vessels for Passover, for without this immersion they would not be considered fit for use, and others would go with older utensils in order to purge them in the boiler of the Mikva. The boiler was ignited the night before for this purpose.
The tables, kitchen counters and closet shelves would be covered with new liners, nice and clean.
The ovens were cleaned with cleanser, and then glowed with a hot fire. The Passover utensils were brought down from the roof and the Chometz vessels were brought up to the roof for the duration of the eight days.
After the morning prayers, the first-born would be redeemed from their fast[7], and the joyous and glorious festival began to appear. Everyone was attired in their new festival clothes, the generally dimly lit rooms were now lit with bright oil lamps and torches, and the table was covered with a white tablecloth and chairs for reclining. Children who lived out of town came home to be with grandparents or parents on the night of the Seder. The tables were set spaciously; they were adorned with a large Seder[8] plate; a large Matza plate; wine glasses of various colors; and Haggadas of various sizes which were passed on from generation to generation, enhanced by various commentaries and illuminated with various illustrations, embroidered covers and beautiful borders.
People ran around in a hustle, were busy, and everyone waited for the night of the Seder with awe and trepidation. They concerned themselves with who would be given the role of asking the questions, and worried that the children would not get mixed up in the asking of their questions. The fathers worried that they should not get mixed up with when to wash hands and when not to wash hands. The mothers worried that the Seder meal would not be spoiled. Everyone waited...
“Ma Nishtana” brought joy to the heart, as well as the traditional tears – because of blood libels, frights, evil decrees, etc. The tricksters opened the doors of the houses during the recital of “Shefoch Chamatcha” and placed into the house a small straw manikin like a scarecrow, dressed up as Elijah, and stole and drank the Cup of Elijah.
There were homes where the Seder continued until 1:00 AM or later. The children took naps during the day so that they would be able to stay up for the long, drawn out Seder, however the eyes shut nevertheless, and heads nodded backwards. “Woe to the child who falls asleep”, as the children were afraid of the chastisement of their father. The mother would take her young children into a separate room to doze off so “father would not be aware”.
The father was like a king in his white clothes. He ate while reclining and discoursed without stopping, in words that only he, as a scholar, could understand.
Everyone fixed his or her eyes upon him.
He would often read the Yiddish commentary of the Haggada so that the family members including the women would also understand. The wife did everything according to the wishes of the king.
This was the only time during the year when the father would sit as a king at the table and set out the courses of food, and give command as to when to eat and when not to eat, when to cover the Matza and when not to cover the Matza, when to drink the wine. On this occasion the mother, generally the master of the table, would wait for his command.
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| Passover ends with a jubilant "Next year in Jerusalem!" |
