For the Seder, it was Zack's turn to host the evening. As a Rabbi he knew what should be done when -- and by whom. He knew all the prayers and the stories, having memorized them long ago. People expected him to be in charge, and it made him feel a little important -- if only for the night.

The table for the feast was located in a dining hall at the back of the house. Along one side of the room there were floor-to-ceiling length windows with long, flowing drapes between large columns. Around the table there were plush cushions on the floor where they would sit at the long, low table.

It was customary at the Passover table for people to recline to one side or the other on pillows; to relax in comfort, in the manner of their former Egyptian masters. They would be served their meal and there would be plentiful wine. Oil lamps placed on the table and around the room provided a warm, festive light for the evening's long observance.

Looking out through the windows, one could see into gardens behind the house. In the distance the sun had set and the sky was a wash of orange, yellow and blue. It was a beautiful spring evening and a magical setting for their celebration.

Around the table, places were set for each guest that included the four ritual cups for wine. The special food dishes for Passover were already on the table in large platters; fresh roast lamb -- slaughtered yesterday, bitter green herbs and a bowl with salt water to dip them in, and unleavened bread. It was a simple meal that was rich with symbolism for the people of Israel, and very familiar to everyone gathered.

"Josh, it looks like you're still holding your wine cup from outside. You mustn't set it on the table with the ritual cups," Zack said, beginning to bring a little formality to their observance. "Only ritual cups are allowed on the table."

Without prompting, Eran stepped forward and took the cup from Josh's hand. He handed it to a servant behind him.

It was clear that Josh had been drinking more than the others, having started earlier in the day, on his visits to the local vendors. It was, after all, a holiday and these were prosperous times. People were eager to celebrate with the successful businessman.

Liz, noticing Josh's intoxicated state, curled her lip in disapproval and closed her eyes for a moment. She was probably the only one who cared, Zack thought. Everyone else was happy to see the master enjoying himself. As long as he continued to provide for their support, why should they care?

Next, Zack added, "And all leavened bread has been removed from the house?"

"Yes Zack," Ann nodded smiling.

"Oh yes!" Mary spoke up. "I found all the loaves yesterday on my own ... even the hidden ones!" She was proud of her part in the holiday preparations.

"Mary is our expert at finding the leavened bread before Passover," Anne said. "It's our little game the night before. She's quite the explorer." Everyone laughed.

"Let's take our places around the table," Zack said. I will sit here at the end, and Josh, you sit here to my right. Mary darling, you sit here on my left. And then to my right Josh. Everyone else should follow in this order: Joseph, James, Anne and Liz. The tradition was for people to be seated by their 'importance' in the family -- from highest to lowest. Everyone knew this was the custom, and Zack had already decided the seating order, and announced it, before people took their places.

"Oh Zack, Eran will be joining us at the table tonight," Josh said. "He should sit to my right. I believe there are eight place settings here?" Josh glanced toward Ann for confirmation.

"Yes dear, we've set eight as you requested," she said.

Ann hoped that this unorthodox arrangement was acceptable to Liz. Ann certainly didn't care about formality in this setting. She was content to sit between James and Liz. There was plenty of wine to ease any improprieties. If only Liz would drink more wine, she might actually enjoy herself, Ann thought.

During the meal whatever they ate or drank was passed clockwise around the table, starting with Zack, a reminder of the importance of working together as a group, of serving each other in the community, and of the connectedness of all people.

"First, Zack announced, we will drink from the Cup of Sanctification, the first cup, remembering that God said: 'I will bring you out of Egypt'."

Each picked up their first cup, as the servants poured the warm red wine, while Zack began to sing the first prayer:

"Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe, who chose us from all peoples and exalted us from all tongues, and sanctified us with His commandments. And You gave to us, Lord our God, with love appointed times for gladness, festivals and times for joy, the day of this festival of Matzah, the time of our freedom, a holy convocation, a memorial of the exodus from Egypt. For you chose us and sanctified us from all the nations and the festivals of your holiness in gladness and in joy you gave us a heritage. Blessed are You, Adonai, who sanctifies Israel and the seasons."

Each drank from their cup. Liz took just the tiniest sip, while Josh gulped his down. Mary's cups were small compared to the others, so her sips were the smallest, and her wine was watered down, she being only twelve years old.

Zack continued in prayer, "Blessed art thou, Lord our God, Master of the universe, who has kept us alive and sustained us and has brought us to this special time."

Next, the Servants brought out small bowls of water and a towel for ritual hand washing, stopping at each person so they could dip their own hands in the water and dry them in a ritual 'cleansing' symbolizing spiritual purity.

The observance continued with everyone eating bitter tasting green herbs dipped in salted water, symbolizing the bitterness of the Jews captivity and the tears that were shed for their suffering.

Next, the servants removed all food from the table for the traditional retelling of their special relationship with God, from Abraham to Moses, and their emancipation and departure from Egypt.

The next glass of wine was poured. As was custom, the youngest male would be enlisted to ask three important questions of the Rabbi, about the meaning of Passover. These questions, which were always the same three, were an opportunity to learn of the Jews' history, explained to everyone but especially repeated to educate the youngest at the table.

Joseph's son, James, the youngest male at 16 years, asked the three questions:

"Why is this night different from all other nights? On all other nights we eat leavened or unleavened bread, but this night only unleavened bread."

"On other nights we eat many different types of herbs, but on this night only bitter herbs. Why do we dip the herbs twice?"

"On all other nights we eat meat roasted, stewed, or boiled, but on this night why only roasted meat?"

Zack answered each question in turn, with a biblical story and quotations from the Torah. At times there was conversation on an answer and at times even feisty give-and-take, as each person was encouraged to share their own ideas. Though Judaism was based on God's commandments that suggested absolutes, there was also plenty of room for differing opinions and discussion.

Then, the servants brought food back to the table to continue the traditional meal, and to tell the story of their people. The people God had freed from bondage and brought to the promised land that was to be their homeland, where they would live with Him, worshiping Him, and protected by Him all the days of their lives of their descendants.

After all the questions had been asked and the story of Moses recounted, it was time to drink another cup of wine before consuming the lamb, and the bread.

Mary, who had been quiet for some time, had a puzzled look on her face. She seemed deep in thought. She decided to ask a question of her own:

"Uncle Zack," she said, "If God has shown his love for us by setting us free from the Egyptians, will he also free uncle Eran and our servants too?

Suddenly, the festive spirit in the room drained away, as if a plug had been pulled. The room became quiet and the adults looked at each other, not sure of how to respond. The servants bowed their heads and gazed at the floor.

"That's my girl!" Josh laughed out loud. "That's the point of the evening, my child. God liberated us because we are his chosen people. Not everyone enjoys the fruit of His love as we do. Besides, our slaves and servants are treated like family. Right Eran?" Josh said, nudging Eran with a poke to the ribs.

Eran flashed a coy smile in Josh's direction and then turned, to see how the other servants were responding to this frank discussion of their inferior status.

There was a sigh of relief in the room as everyone realized that the master was not upset by Mary's naïve question.

Such a smart girl, Zack thought to himself. Mary was always ready to question the truth of a thing. She was strong-willed and unafraid. He had come to respect her more and more. He felt partly responsible for her demeanor, having spent many hours reading to her from the Torah, and teaching her how to think for herself. But because of her youth, she had not yet learned to be diplomatic with her words. He hoped it would not cause her to suffer in this world, where what you say could easily cost you a great deal.

Next came the eating of unleavened bread and another cup of wine, and then more prayers and more wine. The evening went on like this for a long time until people were quite drunk, and full, and a little bored.

It was the end of the ceremony and there was just one more prayer, sung by Zack:

"Then I will take you as my people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians."

Before he could finish, Josh leaned over to Zack and whispered in his ear. "Could you just sing one of the verses and be finished? I'm not sure I can bear all 42 of them. Hasn't the Big Guy received his due for the night?"

Zack looked around the room. He could see that the others were either drunk or tired. He supposed that he could modify the service as Josh requested. He nodded in approval and began to sing the final verse that would end the formal part of the evening, allowing people to depart from the table as they wished.

"In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free."

The fourth and final cup of wine was poured. Everyone drank it down. Liz gave her sister a quick kiss on the cheek and excused herself from the table. Ann and Mary left together after wishing all a good night.

Josh suggested that the men adjourn to the patio to enjoy a little bit more wine around the fire pit.

There was no harm in that, Zack thought, as he pushed himself up from the floor and staggered along with the others. What else was there to do?

(End of Chapter 5)