28 A Kibbutz Seder in the sixties

In a few days I will be sitting with my family at the Seder table reading the Haggadah. I have a small collection of Haggadot with explanations, and these explanations are dear to me because they not only clarify the text but also tell the stories of their commentators. My curiosity is aroused also by the Haggadot that dare change and add to the traditional text – for example the Kibbutz Haggadah – which was perhaps the most extraordinary cultural endeavor that originated here, before pioneering-secular momentum ceased. A year ago I acquired a Haggadah that combines both traditional and Kibbutz Haggadot and I discovered in it the Seder of my youth in the 1960's in the kibbutz.

The Seder in the kibbutz began many weeks before the actual Pesach evening. The choir rehearsed "Kumu Toei Midbar" ("Arise Ye Who Are Wandering in the Desert") and "Se'i Saviv Einaich" ("Lift up your eyes and Look about You") as well as "Leil Shimurim" ("It is a long Night"). The youngsters of the "mosad" (high school) prepared a modern dance (to music by Prokofiev!) on the exodus of the Jews from slavery to freedom and the younger ones rehearsed for the highlight of the evening – but about that later.

On the day of the holiday all the furniture was removed from the dining hall and instead long rows of tables were brought in, which consisted of simple wooden planks covered with white paper serving as tablecloths. The benches were construction boards. The seating arrangements, for which there was a special committee, were a well kept secret. The places were marked on the white table covering, and only on the evening of the holiday did each family receive an envelope containing the numbers that revealed their seats.

Before the holiday we received new sandals which squeaked when we walked and white shirts (in the 50's they were "Russian" shirts). And so, all excited, we walked to the Seder. Songs were sung at that evening, poems and many quotations from the book of Numbers were read. Most of it was not from the original Haggadah. One member of the Kibbutz, always the same one, would begin with "Ha Lachma Anya" ("This is the Bread of affliction") and the Seder would flow from there. The local "intellectual" would get up and deliver this "our" speech: "Again we sit circles in circles…" and would review the "Circles of our Life" from the eldest to the last of the new born babies. And before the "Shulchan Orech" (the festive meal) the choir would go on stage and enthusiastically sing the canon "Let's Drink a Toast, Friends, For We are Yet Strong Enough".

Before the end of the Seder and the never ending circles of the "Hora" came the time for the highlight of the evening – the "chad gadyah" (one lamb) dance of the young children. Here we are dancing to the tune of the pioneers' chad gadyah. The somersaulting gadyah (lamb) standing on his hands – is me.

Chag Sameach!