Chaim Feldman
(Via E-Mail)
Successful Falafel Fund Campaign
Once again we would like to thank the management and staff of The Jewish Press, and The Jewish Press’s many readers around the world, for helping to make a tremendous success of our Erev Pesach Falafel Campaign for poor Israeli families.
Thanks to the generosity of Jewish Press readers, this year we were able to send more than 500 fine Jews to our local falafel store for falafel, French fries, and a drink.
The Jewish Press is truly unique not only for the impressive number of people who read it but who take the time to respond so generously to the needs of others.
(Any checks we received too late for the Falafel Fund will be put toward the Cheesecake for Shavuos Fund for poor families.)
Tzvia Ehrlich-Klein
Jerusalem
Seder Questions
Reader Harold Marks (Letters, April 29) questions the uniqueness of leaning at the Seder meal, alleging that in the old days rich people leaned while they ate.
The uniqueness of the Seder is that even poor people lean while eating. And unlike the rest of the year, when leaning is optional, at the Seder it’s required.
What makes it even more unique today is that nowadays even rich people don’t lean while eating. Try leaning while eating in a fancy restaurant and they’ll probably either call an ambulance or escort you out and ask you to come back when you’re sober.
Mr. Marks also questions just how bitter marror really is since people eat romaine lettuce and horseradish voluntarily all year round in restaurants. But eating marror at the Seder is merely a symbolic reminder of the bitterness we experienced in Egypt. I don’t think it was intended to actually make our lives bitter. If that were the case, we’d have to hire an Egyptian to whip us several times throughout the Seder. What kind of berachah would you make on that?
I notice Mr. Marks didn’t mention the custom of stealing the afikoman during the Seder. This custom is as unique as it gets. I’ve eaten with many people throughout my years and only at a Seder have I seen anyone steal food from the head of the household – and then have the nerve to ask for a gift!
Josh Greenberger
Brooklyn, NY