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By: Brandon Chiat, Digital Media Strategist 

There's something about Passover that speaks deeply to the Jewish soul. According to the 2014 Pew Portrait of American Jews, More Jewish people celebrate the Passover Seder than Yom Kippur and Hanukkah.

Not surprisingly, many Jewish families have made the holiday their own by adding unique customs and traditions developed over many generations. Such is the case for two Beth El families - the Boonshafts and the Janets - each of whom created their own Haggadah to observe the Seder.

The Boonshaft Family

Jack and Marcia Boonshaft developed quite a few family traditions in their 52 years of marriage, but none are as cherished as their Passover celebration.  

“I feel immersed in my Jewishness when preparing for Passover,” Marcia said.

Anyone would be hard-pressed not to become engrossed in the Passover spirit at the Boonshaft Seder.

“Everyone in the family receives a personalized Haggadah with their name on it,” Jack Boonshaft said. “I go through everyone's Haggadah and assign each person a portion to read based on their personalities and interests.”

A few days before the first Seder, Jack can be found editing each guest's Haggadah with multicolored pencils. He changes the assigned readings every year, customizing each person's passage to encourage active participation and spur meaningful discussions.

“Our guests look forward to finding out their part,” Marcia said. “One of our daughters is the family wine connoisseur, so she usually gets the blessings over the wine.”

Inclusiveness is an integral part of the Boonshaft Seder.

“Everyone reads regardless of whether or not you know Hebrew,” Jack said. “We're all part of the Exodus story, so we make sure everyone at our Seder participates, though sometimes the person assigned to the Simple Child takes offense!”

The Boonshafts invite their family - and friends who feel like family - to join them for Seder, no matter where in the country they live.

“We invite all of our Wandering Jews,” Marcia said. “Once you have an invitation, it's for life!”

Among those to receive a lifetime invitation to the Boonshaft Seder is Beth El's Marketing Specialist, Esti Showell.

“The Boonshafts' Seder is so warm and joyous, I felt like a part of their family,” Esti said. "Their traditions are so special." 

Among those traditions is a Miriam's Cup.

“The Jewish woman's role is to keep Judaism and Israel alive in the home,” Marcia said. “We include a Miriam's Cup to honor my mother and all the other women in our lives who keep Jewish values thriving.”

The Boonshafts' also use matzah cover which belonged to Marcia's mother and has been in the family since 1941. But the Boonshafts pass more than heirlooms through the generations.

“We have six grandchildren, and they've all celebrated their B'Nai Mitzvot at Beth El,” Jack said. “Two of our grandchildren were raised Jewish, and the other four have learned about their Jewish heritage through holiday celebrations at our home. Passover is their touchstone to Judaism.”

The Janet Family

The Janet family's lively Seders are well known in the Beth El community.

“I've always loved Passover because it combines big family meals with a rich historical narrative as well as a lot of fun customs,” said Howard and Rina (Z”L) Janet's eldest son, Andrew. “Our mom loved Passover and decided to make a family Haggadah to add a personal touch to our Seder."

The origins of the Janet family Haggadah go back to Rina's grandfather, who made elaborate poster boards to celebrate holidays and commemorate joyous life events. Rina carried on the tradition and, before long, applied her creative flair to the family's Passover Seder.

“She would research meaningful Passover texts, combined with pictures and stories of our family members both living and dead, songs we liked to sing, and even the inside jokes our family has told and passed down for many years,” added Andrew's younger brother, Adam.

“Adam's great aunt used to tell this one joke every year, and Rina included that joke in our Haggadah at that specific moment during the Seder when his Aunt used to tell it,” explained Adam's wife, Corinne. “Everything is in sequence.”

In doing so, Rina curated a living chronicle of the Janet family's history.

“Rina would update the Haggadah following major milestones or when the Janets welcomed new family members,” explained Anna, Andrew's wife. “When Andrew and I got married, Rina added pictures of my family to the Haggadah, which was so special for me and my parents.”

The Haggadah serves as a snapshot of family memories. Among Adam's most cherished photographs is a picture from his bris.

“There's a note next to the picture of my bris that reads: We had to have Adam's bris early in the morning so that we could still serve bagels before we had to get rid of chametz for Passover,” Adam said.

Rina wanted to celebrate her mother (now 95-years-old), so, like the Boonshafts, she introduced a Miriam's Cup to the Seder. At that point in the Seder, all the women grab tambourines and noisemakers and dance around the table singing Debbie Friedman's version of “Miriam's Song.”

“It's quite a joyous, unique, and unforgettable part of the Seder,” Anna said. “It's an example of the flourishing and magnetic spirit of Jewish women.”

Last year was the first Seder since Rina passed, but her legacy is preserved in the Haggadah she helped create.

“Not only did Rina design the Haggadah, but, as the leader of our Seder, she's the one who took us through the Haggadah,” Corinne said. “Without question we've carried on the tradition in her memory and spirit.”

SELL YOUR CHAMETZ TO BETH EL

Did you know you can authorize Beth El to "purchase" your chametz? If you're interested, fill out a form in the Beth El office or contact Ritual Director Ben Kreshtool (ben@bethelbalto.com). The form must be signed, and emails sent, no later than 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 19th. 

LET ALL WHO ARE HUNGRY COME AND EAT! 

If you would like to host a community member at your Seder, or if you are looking for a Seder to attend, please email Cantor Blatt (melanie@bethelbalto.com) no later than Thursday, April 18th. 

NEED A HAGGADAH FOR YOUR SEDER? 

Visit our Judaica Shop to purchase your Beth El Haggadah. All items are tax-free and proceeds benefit the Congregation and Beth El schools.