GAIL WHITE Women's Seder is rich in tradition

Sherry Weinblatt, the editor of the Jewish Journal, invited Diane Makar Murphy and I to join her and her Jewish sisters for an Interfaith Women's Seder.
Being of Christian faith, I have always been curious about the Passover ritual celebrated by those of Jewish faith.
It was an evening that filled me with intrigue and caused a great deal of reflection.
A Jewish Seder is a celebration of the Israelites' exodus out of Egypt. As I studied my Seder plate, I learned it was filled with symbolism and remembrance of that journey to freedom.
Each item was placed toward the rim of the plate, representing a point on the Star of David.
What they represent: Horseradish, a bitter herb, serves as a reminder of the bitterness of slavery in Egypt. Parsley, a fresh vegetable, is a symbol of new life, but it is dipped in salt water to represent the tears shed by Israelite slaves. A mixture of apples and nuts is a reminder of the clay the Israelites used to make bricks for the Pharaoh.
In memory of the offerings made in the Temple, a roasted egg is placed on the Seder plate. A roasted bone represents the special lamb sacrificed at the Temple.
Matzah, representing three kinds of people, and Elijah's cup, symbolizing future redemption, are in the center of the table.
I knew the story of the Israelites' exodus out of Egypt, but it came to life as various women stood and read the Haggadah.
Moses was born into slavery. The wicked Herod decreed that all Israelite boys must be put to death.
I remember first hearing this story as a child and wondering how anyone could be so evil. For the women I was sitting with at the Seder table, it had even greater significance. These babies were their ancestors.
Meaningful narrative: A group of women from the Jewish community created a Haggadah for our Seder, highlighting the women of the Exodus. Certainly, the story of Moses would not be the same without the women who acted on behalf of his life.
Moses' mother, Yocheved, who defied the pharaoh's orders and hid her child from his slayers. I wonder what she was thinking as she wove the basket out of papyrus -- every stitch filled with hope and despair.
I am intrigued by the Pharaoh's daughter, Batya. No doubt, a brave but rebellious young woman. How bold she must have been to tell her father she had found an Israelite baby and planned to raise him. I wonder what Pharaoh said.
Sherry informed me that Batya left Egypt with the Israelites when they escaped. She had been grafted into their community.
Then there is Miriam. This strong-willed, self-assured little girl. What was she thinking as she sat, watching her little brother float in the water. As the pharaoh's daughter approached with her enclave of servants, I am sure she wanted run into the water and retrieve her baby brother.
After he is discovered, she steps up and tells this woman of royalty that she knows someone who can nurse the boy. How her knees must have been shaking. How brave she must have been.
The evening continued with more readings from the Haggadah, intermixed with Hebrew songs. It was not difficult to determine who was Jewish and who was not. Those of us not of that faith could not even begin to sing the Seder songs. I watched as the youngest of Jewish daughters attending sang every word.
Tradition: It was this faithful act of passing this tradition down from generation to generation that was the most poignant aspect for me, as I took part in the Seder. For thousands of years, the Jewish community has celebrated their freedom with this same Passover feast. It is a family ritual, performed around the dining-room table with every plate and cup filled with meaning and significance of their journey to freedom.
Though my faith rests in a different freedom, I was blessed and enlightened by sharing in this tradition with sisters of the Jewish faith.