Passover Haggadot (plural of Haggadah) can be found in many versions, from the old Maxwell House Coffee pamphlets to elaborately decorated and detailed hardbound books. The word Haggadah means “telling,” which comes from the Biblical command: “And you shall tell your child on that day, saying: ‘G-d did (miracles) for me when I left Egypt so that I would fulfill the Torah’s commandment.” The book serves as a guide to the story that is to be handed down from generation to generation.
Two Haggadot with Arizona ties are shorter, more concise versions. The Promise Haggadah was created by Tucson resident Nanci Freedberg. “We were at a family seder when my children were 3 and 6. I noticed that not only were they restless, but even the adults seemed hungry and hurried,” Nanci says. She wanted to create something that would resonate with all ages. In 2002, she wrote and self-published The Promise Haggadah, “incorporating a complete, yet concise family seder.” The 28-page booklet includes lovely illustrations, and minimal Hebrew, all of which is transliterated. Traditions, prayers and blessings are written in modern form and she includes a passage on Miriam’s Cup.
As a unique touch, the front cover is personalized with a first or family name separately on each cover, i.e. “Nanci’s Haggadah” or “The Freedberg Family Haggadah.” Jewish organizations throughout the U S and Canada sell The Promise Haggadah as a fundraiser, receiving a percentage of sales. Individuals can purchase them directly online at PersonalizedHaggadahs.com
The Promise Haggadah will be used this year by Congregation Chaverim in Tucson for their community seder at the Tucson Botanical Gardens on April 15.
Cass and Nellie Foster were Valley residents for 20 years. During that time Cass was a theater professor at Central Arizona College and Mesa Community College. Nellie was in the health care field, serving as the director of clinical operations at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe. They were active at Temple Beth Sholom in Chandler for a number of years, particularly while raising their son. Cass served on the board there and Nellie was president of the sisterhood.
Cass was also writing. A Shakespeare devotee, he wrote 60-minute versions of seven of Shakespeare’s plays. He maintained the essence, the language and the integrity of the three- to five-hour-long plays, but by making judicious cuts, he was able to greatly reduce their length. Popular around the world for middle and high school students, each script includes footnotes to explain archaic words as well as “how-to” hints to the directors and teachers.
Then, forsooth, he thought why not take this condensing concept and apply it to another hours-long story? Cass had been raised in a “predominantly Conservative home with strong Orthodox leanings,” he explains. He and Nellie, who came from a more secular background, hosted annual seders in their Tempe home for 45 to 50 guests. Cass felt that he was “putting even himself to sleep” some years. His family and friends encouraged him to ply his trade at creating a 60-minute version. Cass decided to give it a try as he firmly believes “to seder or not to seder” should not be the question!
He took the template he used in reducing the Bard, and applied it to a Conservative Passover Haggadah. He craftily maintained the essence, integrity and beauty of the story. He included Hebrew with the transliteration. Then he and Nellie added in recipes and games as well as “how-to” hints on setting the table, creating the seder plate and other hands-on activities. The result is The 60-Minute Seder, published in February by Linda Radke of Six Point Press in Chandler. The book is available at major book stores or directly from FiveStarPublications.com (the parent company for Six Point Press). More information is available at SixtyMinuteSeder.com.
The Fosters currently live in Kauai, where they are involved in “the local theater scene, the local beach scene and somewhat with both the local Chabad and the small Reform Jewish community.”
