Seder Poems

A Passover Seder - 2023

Questions asked
    Answers attempted
  Lively discussions
    Hebrew, English; Yiddish, Russian  

  Flatbread matzo served
    Cups of grape juice downed
  Wine no longer a Passover staple
    Matzos round; no more 'squares' around 

  Come midnight weary, most retire

Categories: seder, celebration, food, holiday, jewish,
Form: Rhyme

Pre-Seder Afternoon

The holiday’s at sunset
So the afternoon before
Is time for eating food
We won’t be eating anymore.

No bread or beer or pasta -
Not a bagel for a week!
I’ve been doing this since childhood,
So there’ll be no need to sneak.

It’s bizarre - I’m not religious
But tradition reigns supreme
And restricting what you eat is not
As hard as it might

Categories: seder, food, holiday, jewish,
Form: Rhyme

Pre-Seder

The chicken soup and matzoh balls
Are ready for the pot.
The hard-boiled eggs are in the fridge.
(We never eat them hot.)

The items for the Seder plate
All wait for their debut,
With my homemade charoses.
(Google if you have no clue.)

The chicken cutlets, farfel-topped 
And stuffing made from same
Will share the table with some veggies,
Sautéed to acclaim.

Of course, there’ll

Categories: seder, holiday, jewish,
Form: Rhyme

Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

A Seder On Zoom

We’re having a Seder on Zoom
And Passover foods we'll consume.
We’ll eat as a group
Things like matzoh ball soup
But our seats won’t be in the same room.

We’ll read the Haggadah to tell
Of the story we all know so well – 
How the Jews, once enslaved,
Crossed the sea and were saved
Though they wandered around for a spell.

Tradition

Categories: seder, holiday, jewish, technology,
Form: Limerick

No Hasty Seder

When God took us out from Egypt, we left in haste,
Not waiting for our flat bread to rise--no time to waste:
  No time to contemplate the events of the night;
  Just time to leave in a hurry, right after midnight.

No time to count the miracles God had performed
Or to see that to an

Categories: seder, faith, holiday, hope,
Form: Rhyme

It's Passover-Seder Time

Alright, you guys, it's 'Passover-Seder-time!'
  First we party -- Drink a whole glass of wine.

Wait, wait, wait.  Back-up.  We gotta tell the story:
  Ask all those questions; Describe God in all His glory.

Hey, hey, story's over.  It's time for the meal.
  NOW we can celebrate: Eat and drink whatever

Categories: seder, celebration, holiday, humorous,
Form: Light Verse

Pesach Seder

P  Pass over, O God of Israel, the houses of Israel on this night
E  Egypt, unsuspecting even at midnight of what was to come
S  Smite, God of Israel, every firstborn Egyptian male
A  Anguished Cries from every Egyptian household
C  Children of Israel hurriedly exit the land
H  Hallelujah! Praise the Lord,

Categories: seder, celebration, freedom, god, holiday,
Form: Acrostic

The Seder

We covered all the bases – 
Told the story, though in brief.
With a toddler and an infant,
It brought everyone relief.

Moses, Pharaoh, matzoh,
Dipping veggies, drinking wine,
Taking turns with the Haggadah,
Festive meal on which to dine.

Every Seder’s slightly different
As my memories attest,
But with grandkids at the table,
This one ranks up with the best.

Categories: seder, family, holiday,
Form: Rhyme