Passover.Blog

30minute-Seder supports the Jewish Women International’s National Library Initiative
Thank you so much to 30 Minute Seder for its contribution to Jewish Women International’s National Library Initiative. JWI is committed to creating 100 brand-new children’s libraries in battered women’s shelters and crisis centers across the United States. Your contribution helps make this ambitious goal a reality. Our goal is attainable and in sight because of support from contributors like 30miute-Seder.

Your gift to JWl’s National Library Initiative will be felt by so many women and their children who are living in this shelter. Your contribution funds JWI’s commitment to put, creating much needed “safe havens” for these children. Each of these libraries is a warm and welcoming environment for children whose lives are overturned by violence -promoting literacy, generating comfort and instilling hope in wounded hearts .

This article appeared in the Spring 2010 issue of JWI’s Jewish Woman magazine, which by the way, is an excellent publication for contemporary Jewish women.

Imagine this scenario: It’s two hours before Passover begins and 30 guests are coming for Seder, yet you realize you have only a few Haggadahs on hand, most of which are falling apart or aren’t a good fit for the diverse crowd you’re expecting. Don’t wring your hands or abandon the apples you’re chopping for charoset to rush out to Barnes & Noble. Go to www.30minuteseder.com and, for $16.95 and a few minutes of your time, download the 30 Minute Seder™ and print as many copies as you need.

“In the months before Passover, most of our sales are for the full-color booklet format, available online and in bookstores, which sells for $5.95. But when it gets closer to Passover, the sales shift to the downloaded version,” says former educator Bob Kopman of Scottsdale, Ariz., who developed the 30 Minute Seder. “By the day before Passover, we get a download ‘order a minute.”

So what is the 30 Minute Seder? Kopman says he got tired of slogging through lengthy Seders where the children fidgeted and guests kept asking, “When do we eat?” So four years ago, he decided to write a meaningful Haggadah that would combine brevity with tradition. Rabbi Bonnie Koppell, spiritual leader of Temple Chai in Phoenix and the first female rabbi to serve as a chaplain in the U.S. military, reviewed and edited the text. Kopman’s business partner, a graphic artist, provided colorful illustrations.

The Haggadah includes the essential prayers in English and Hebrew with transliteration and concise, compelling text for all the key elements. Favorite Seder songs are also included, with more available on the website. Because many Seders peter out after the meal, the 30 Minute Seder is designed to end before dinner begins; an innovation that many families will applaud. Also, Gender-neutral language is used throughout.

More than 100,000 copies have been sold, and the Seder has been used with Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative and interfaith audiences. Large-print and Braille editions are available, and members of the armed forces can download the Seder for free. 30 Minute Seder also offers items designed to engage children, including Seder table place cards and Passover place mats that the kids can color.

Visit www.30minuteSeder.com to learn more.

Type “pblogcoupon” in the coupon box at checkout and receive 10% off your order* at www.30minuteseder.com!

*This coupon only good for online orders. 

Light the way

Bo, Exodus 10:1-13:16

Rabbi Sadie Reuben

“No person could see his brother, nor could any person rise from his place, or three days; but for the children of Israel, there was light in all their dwellings” (Exodus 10:23).Darkness, the ninth of the 10 plagues, discussed in this week’s parsha, was not just a plague of physical darkness, but one of spiritual darkness as well. In addition to the physical darkness imposed by God, the Egyptian people fashioned a self-imposed darkness created by their lack of belief and faith in God.Rabbi Nehemiah taught that the darkness, which spread over all of Egypt, originated in the regions of geheinom (purgatory). The Chasidic masters explain that this type of darkness was both a physical and spiritual darkness, a curtain that hid God’s presence. It was, in other words, a lack of physical light and a curtain that concealed God’s light, God’s presence. I would submit that the spiritual darkness is far more serious than the physical.The plague of darkness did not affect the Jewish people. Rabbi Israel of Ruzhin offered his interpretation that within every Jew is a ray of light, a ray of light that is brightened by God’s presence. This spiritual light lives within a person and not within one’s dwelling. Therefore, although one’s environment may conceal the physical light within, if a person retains faith in God, the spiritual light will not be extinguished.Furthermore, our rabbis teach that our internal light is brightened by the mitzvot (commandments) that we perform, the acts of kindness that we do. By acting justly and participating in tikkun olam, repairing the world, we have the opportunity to share our personal light with all of humanity.Rabbi David Wolpe tells a story about a man who once stood before God; his heart was breaking from the pain and injustice of the world. He was angry at God. He shook his fists at God. He said, “God, look at all the suffering, the anguish and the distress in your world. Why don’t you send help?” And God responded, “I did send help – I sent you.”The defining characteristic of greatness is the willingness to intercede when one witnesses the difficulties faced by others. Individuals who accomplish this are historically judged to be great. The book of Shemot, Exodus, begins our journey with Moses. Moses is considered our greatest leader because he did not sit by passively in the presence of evil. He did not justify inaction with the claim that it was none of his business. He intervened and did whatever he could because he understood that all men are responsible one for another. In essence, Moses shared his spiritual light with the Hebrews at a time when they experienced spiritual darkness.We can learn from Moses and follow in his footsteps and respond to the human needs of the horrible disaster in Haiti. As Rabbi Tarfon said, “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” Tikkun olam, repairing the world, is our mission.Yours are the hands of God. Yours are the eyes of God. Yours is the heart of God. And yours is the light of God. As Rabbi Israel of Ruzhin said, “Every Jew is a ray of light.” In other words, as Jews, we have a duty to do all we can, whether by donations or by other actions, to help relieve the suffering in places such as Haiti or Darfur. This is a reminder that we count, and that we can bring light to a dark place.Whenever a dark cloud metaphorically covers our world, it is imperative for us to find the light within us in order to spread this light to humanity.

Rabbi Sadie Reuben is the spiritual leader of Temple Havurat Emet in Sun Lakes.

Order by phone now available along with improved customer service support line. 

30minute-Seder has improved and expanded its customer service to include phone orders and technical assistance.  And it’s located in the US!  Now customers can place orders toll free by phone by calling 877.363.6967.  Our operators are standing by to take your order M-F 8:00am – 5:00pm EST.  And of course, you can still order online 24/7 on 30minuteSeder.com. 

 Need help with your download?  Check out our new and improved FAQ/ support section.  Rather talk to a support specialist?  Call our toll free customer service line and just say, “Help!!”  It’s available order M-F 8:00am – 5:00pm EST.

RAVSAK, the organization for Jewish day schools, is having their first ever unified conference in January and 30minute-Seder™ has been invited to lend support to this very important, ground-breaking event.  “Education funding of all types has become hard to come by due to the current economic climate.  It is our privilege to help the teachers of these wonderful schools by providing a fun, educational activity for their younger students”, says Rob Kopman, Publisher of 30minute-Seder™. 

To help sponsor the conference, 30minute-Seder™ will be donating downloads of our Chanukah and Passover coloring placemats.  All teachers attending the conference will be given special access to go online and download any of our placemats and print them out in-house.  For Chanukah, there are 6 different pictures to color including a “make your own dreidle” kit.  For Passover, there are 6 different pictures to color including our favorite- Let My People Go! depicting Moses leading the Jewish slaves to freedom.    Read the rest of this entry →

On July 9, 2009, 30minute-Seder™ was accepted into the Library of Congress as a recognized book in the category of Judaica.  We received a phone call from the Library of Congress’ librarian requesting two copies of our Haggadah for their collection in the Jefferson and Adams reading rooms.  We’ve sold over 100,000 copies in the last three years, but it’s still nice to be recognized by such a prestigious institution.  

And speaking of prestigious, we’ve now become a part of the Harvard library catalog.  Located in the Harvard Depository-Consult Judaica Division, 30minute-Seder™ is now available for reference use only, to all Harvard students wishing to research Judaica.

Welcome to the 30minute-Seder™ Passover blog dedicated to making Passover a joy to celebrate!  We’ll be discussing things like choosing affordable good tasting wines that are kosher for Passover and useful tips on making a better Seder.  There will be occasional coupons too, so check back often. 

If you have a topic you would like us to discuss, please post it and we will respond.