New Haggadah lessens temptation to pass over Seder

Chandler, Ariz.—Modern Jewish families that shy away from participating in the annual Passover Seder due to its typical two- to five-hour ceremony, will cheer Cass and Nellie Foster’s “Sixty-Minute Seder: Preserving the Essence of the Passover Haggadah.”

“Cass and Nellie Foster have done an amazing job of sifting the essence of the Passover ritual from the embellishments of time. Each section is explained clearly, with the appropriate blessings in Hebrew and transliteration. The outstanding glossary of terms make it possible for a newcomer to understand the background of the symbols and rituals without adding long readings to the text. The symbols are explained in a manner accessible to Jews and non-Jews alike… Best of all, Nellie’s family recipes make it possible for anyone to create a splendid Seder meal,” said Rabbi Judith HaLevy, Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue.

While Foster developed the text, he credits his wife, Nellie, with not only providing suggestions for how to set the Seder table but also preparing the Seder meal as well as simple meals for the remaining Passover days including recipes families can create together.

“With more than 3,500 Haggadahs in print and no two having the same content, revisiting the Haggadah is not unheard of,” said Linda F. Radke, president of Five Star Publications, Inc., the parent company of Six Points Press, which published Foster’s book. “Though pared down to only 60 minutes, this Haggadah still has it all, from planning to preparation to the actual presentation of the Seder.”

According to Rabbi Jack Moline of Agudas Achim (Conservative) Congregation in Alexandria, Va., “A seder in an hour? To a traditional rabbi, it sounds like heresy!  But you now hold an opportunity to discover a truth about this long-standing ritual that is often obscured by the focus on form over substance. The order of the Seder is a framework for building your own story of liberation.  Cass and Nellie Foster have distilled it to its essence.  And I dare you— maybe double dare you—not to be captivated by the opportunities they present.”

Scheduled for release in February 2014, “Sixty-Minute Seder: Preserving the Essence of the Passover Haggadah,” (ISBN: 978-1-58985-260-0, $12.95 softbound; 978-1-58985-261-7 eBook) is a Five Star Publications, Inc. product distributed by Ingram, Baker & Taylor and Midpoint Trade Books. The book will soon be available at major bookstores, BarnesandNoble.com, Amazon.com and FiveStarPublications.com.