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Do you have to drink all four cups of wine for your Seder to be ‘traditional?’

[additional-authors]
April 21, 2016

Almost all Jews celebrate the Seder night. Seven-in-ten Jews in America (70%) told the researchers of the Pew Research Center that they participated in a Passover meal (Seder) “in the past year.” In Israel, according to the recent Pew survey, the numbers are higher. More than ninety percent of Jews attended a Seder last passover (93%). Religious Israelis attended a Seder (almost 100%). Non-religious Israelis also attended a Seder (87% of “Hiloni” – secular – Israelis). Young Israeli Jews – from 18 year olds to 49 year olds – attended a Seder (93%). Older Israeli Jews – 50 years old and up – attended a Seder (93%). Even Russian speaking Israelis, the population least connected to religious practices, attended a Seder (70%). Even Jews of no religion in the US, the population least connected to religious practices there, seem to participate in a Seder more than they are engaged with other Jewish events (42%, compared to 22% who fast on Yom Kippur) or practices (just 6% light Shabbat candles). That is to say: The Seder is a well-established event. It does not need PR, marketing, or promotion.

Attendance does not attest to the nature and content of the Seder. We know that many Jews attend the Seder, but we do not know if their Seder is dictated by ancient customs. We do not know if they follow the Haggadah word by word; and if they do, what Haggadah they are using; and if they add new traditions to the old ones (I am told that talking about the global waves of refugees – a subject whose connection to Pesach is natural and obvious – is fashionable this year); and if they skip the boring parts; and if they only come for the family meal, including, possibly, Matzo and wine and conversation.  

The American Pew survey of Jews from 2013 gives us very little by which to make differentiations between the different types of Seders. But the Israeli survey from a few weeks ago does include some vague clues, because of an additional question that was asked of all those Israelis (93% of Jews) who attended the Seder: was it a “masorti” Seder – a traditional Seder – or not?

The term “masorti” is, of course, an ambiguous one. A respondent to the survey is invited to interpret the question, and the meaning of having a traditional Seder. Do you have to read the Haggadah from beginning to end for your Seder to be considered “traditional?” Do you have to drink all four cups of wine for your Seder to be considered “traditional?” How about three? What if your Kneidlach were cooked in a non-Kosher-for-Passover pot? You can make your own definitions, and these will not necessarily be compatible with the definitions of Pew Israeli respondents – 67% of which hold a Seder that they consider traditional. About a quarter of Jewish Israelis (26%) say they hold a Seder that isn’t traditional.

Pew asked both Israelis and Americans a somewhat similar question on Yom Kippur: do you fast all day, or part of the day (or not at all)? This, again, is an opportunity to differentiate between types of participation of different intensity. 40% of American Jews say they fast all day. 13% say they fast “part” of the day. What is “part?” Two hours? Fifteen? Including drink? Only food? 60% of Israeli Jews fast all day on Yom Kippur. 8% fast part of the day. And naturally, both in the US and in Israel the intensity of observance has to do with the type of religiosity: The Orthodox tend to fast a full day much more than members of other Jewish denominations. Religious Israelis (Haredi and Dati) fast more and fast all day more than non-religious (Hiloni) Israelis. 30% of secular Israelis fast a full day on Yom Kippur. 13% more fast part of the day.

The story of the traditional Seder is similar. Religious and traditional Israelis (88%) have a traditional Seder. Secular Israelis much less so. 41% of them say they have a traditional Seder, 46% say that they have a non-traditional Seder (among Russian speaking Israelis, 23% had a traditional Seder). And as I already said: we do not know what they mean by traditional. Did they or did they not sing the Chad Gadya? Did they or did they not dip potatoes in salt water? The definition of “traditional” is a cognitive matter (what I think about what I do at the Seder) no less than it is a practical matter (what I do at the Seder). Religious Israelis, traditional Israelis, the less educated, and Mizrahi Jews – all these think that their Seder is traditional. The secular, the better educated, and Ashkenazi Jews – all those tend to think that their Seder is less traditional. 

What is your Seder going to look like? That is for you to decide. Would you consider your Seder a traditional Seder? Will it be a traditional Seder? These are all somewhat interesting questions – that is why they were asked by Pew. But it is not the most interesting question. It is also not the most important question. That title should be reserved for the question “will your Seder be a meaningful one?” I hope it will.

Chag Sameach.

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