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April 7, 2006
Reb Shlomo's cosmic seder
Carlebach drew participants from around the world for his dinner.
CAROL SOKOLOFF
Jewish holidays serve many purposes, and Passover is no exception.
The ritual seder dinner reminds each generation of an ancestral
tale of liberation and redemption, kept alive through the tasting
of symbolic foods eaten in a prescribed order. Along with the story
of the exodus from Egypt, memories and traditions are handed down
to carry the ritual into the future. The children at the table will
one day create a seder of their own, drawing upon memory and innovation
to keep the celebration meaningful.
As we prepare for this year's Passover, I am reminded of the first
seder I ever organized; almost 30 years ago, one quite unlike any
before or since. The year was 1978 and a global conference called
the World Symposium on Humanity, featuring political leaders, scientists
and spiritual teachers from many traditions, took place that April
in Los Angeles, Toronto and London, England, concurrently. The groundbreaking
finale of the conference was to be a live satellite video link between
the three locations, to demonstrate the oneness of all humans on
the planet. In these days of instant communication via the Internet,
it seems a quaint idea, but at the time it was exciting (though
in the end, we talked via conference call).
I was living in Toronto and had friends involved in the conference,
so I volunteered to help. Since the symposium was scheduled to take
place over Passover, I was asked to organize a cosmic seder for
Jewish participants and interested attendees. The event could take
place at an inspiring medieval-style dining hall at the University
of Toronto and it was suggested that perhaps Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach,
z'l, who also lived in the city, might be persuaded to conduct the
seder.
I had occasionally studied and shared music with Carlebach, so at
the next opportunity, I tentatively approached him on the matter,
certain it would be out of the question. To my surprise, he replied,
without a moment's hesitation, that he would be delighted to conduct
a cosmic seder if it could be arranged for later in the evening.
Carlebach would first share his family's seder and then simply walk
the five miles from his home in north Toronto to the downtown university.
Our cosmic seder would begin at 11 p.m.
So far, so good, but there were other logistics to consider. The
event might attract 300 people – how on earth would we feed
them on a meagre budget? Once again, the rabbi saw no problem. The
seder foods are meant to be symbolic, he explained, suggesting we
take a ceremonial approach. We would need only greens (symbolic
of the new growth of spring), eggs (for rebirth and the cycle of
life), charoset, horseradish, salt water, grape juice and, of course,
matzah.
Carlebach suggested we instruct those attending to bring some well-washed
lettuce or celery and a hard-boiled egg. This would take care of
half the food needed, but what about the juice and the matzah, which
was liable to be costly? Perhaps the Manischiewitz company could
be persuaded to donate some as a community service. After a phone
call and a letter, another Passover miracle – Manischiewitz
agreed to donate hundreds of boxes of matzah, as well as kosher
horseradish and grape juice and even candles. The cosmic seder was
becoming a reality. I visited the rabbi to tell him the news and
asked what he thought should go on the poster. Here is the invitation
he dictated:
"Dearest brothers and sisters, come and celebrate with us the
holiest night of the year; the night when God's light is shining
so strong that the lowest slave becomes free and the most unholy
becomes holy. The night when all the gates of heaven are open, let
us be together to open our hearts. The night when we and our children
are so close that Elijah the Prophet has come to tell us redemption
is near. Peace, Shlomo."
A friend created a poster featuring beautiful Hebrew and English
calligraphy, including the instructions to bring greens and eggs,
noting "We'll supply the matzah!"
As the night approached, there were many arrangements to take care
of: flowers, napkins, candles and paper dishes. We borrowed Haggadot
from the campus Hillel House and anyone else who could spare them.
I took on the making of charoset, consulting my mother for the recipe.
As the evening descended, I celebrated the seder with my family
and then went down to the university. Along the way, I passed a
happy group of walkers emanating a beautiful atmosphere. It was
Carlebach and friends (including his brother-in-law, the esteemed
Canadian composer Srul Glick).
As the good rebbe walked the five miles downtown, a group of us
began to set the long tables in the ornate dining hall. Around 10
p.m., the first participants arrived - and by the time Carlebach
and his friends took their place at the front of the room, the tables
were filled with people from many different countries and cultures.
There were Buddhist monks and First Nations chiefs, each in colorful
traditional garb. Here indeed was a splendid array of humanity,
all joined in an ancient celebration of spiritual liberty.
The seder began at 11 p.m. and continued till three in the morning.
Carlebach conducted the entire service, omitting nothing. Hundreds
of people reclined in the Great Hall of Hart House, relishing freedom
as we sang and prayed and shared a momentous occasion. At the appointed
time, we blessed the matzah and Carlebach instructed us to eat it
and savor it as if this simple flat bread were the most delicious
food on earth. I remember all these varied people holding matzah
in the air and then eating it so appreciatively, with "oohs"
and "ahs" of delight. In the early hours of the morning,
we opened the doors to invite Prophet Elijah to be among us. Most
everyone stayed till the conclusion, though the seder went long
into the night.
When all the foods had been eaten, all the juice consumed, all the
prayers prayed and the songs sung, Carlebach and his friends walked
the five miles home in the cool April night. It must have been close
to dawn before he arrived. A great cosmic seder had taken place
and human beings had drawn together to share, to learn and to understand
– a genuine liberation of the spirit.
Carol Sokoloff is a Victoria freelance writer.
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