Tonight We Recline

If Shai and I had ordered Passover dinner and eaten by ourselves at Shai's apartment, it would have been enough (Dayenu), but I'm so very glad that several of our non-Jewish companions decided to join us for Seder! Shai set a lovely table, passed out Haggadahs, and clarified to Faith and Penn that they didn't have to read anything that made them uncomfortable. Although they raised their eyebrows significantly when one of the traditional passages seemed to gloat over-much about the Egyptians' downfall and subsequent loss of riches, my favorite Floridians were soon l'chayim-ing and discussing various of the ten plagues like no one's business. Brian joined us just in time for matzah brownies and sang harmony to a Passover song that depicts a ruckus of animals biting and eating each other until the Angel of Death and the Holy One step in and restore everything to status quo.

The party then retired to the living room and began an impromptu poetry recital. Faith impressed everyone with her fervent interpretive performance of Tool lyrics, which involved shrieking carrots and general cries of terror. A semi-knowledgeable and semi-impassioned discussion of Ezra Pound followed. No one could remember much of "If" except "You'll be a man, my son."

I rebuffed Shai's offer to send me home with leftover brisket, but I realize now what a huge mistake that was. Next year, there is no way that I'll fall prey to that same blunder. Of course next year, I will be hosting the Seder, and thus I will encourage you to please start preparing your post-dinner recitations. It's never too early, and it's a tradition now.