I'm not Jewish, but want to go to a Seder

[Anonymous]

I'm not really religious at all. I was brought up Christian but it never really stuck, and now am not really sure what religion I am. If anything, I'd call myself spiritual. I occasionally go to a UU church and really like it.

I have no intentions of converting to Judaism, but I have always been very intrigued by it. I want to go to a seder that my Jewish friend is doing on Tuesday. It's him, some people that I kind of know and like, and some people I've never met before. I'd probably be the only non-Jew.

Would it be okay if I ask to go? He's talked about his religion with me before and has told me that I'm always welcome to come with him whenever he does anything, so I'd assume that this would count. Can a gentile go?

If so, what's it like? What food is served? I'm gluten free and am worries that I can't eat anything there.

Any insight you have I would really appreciate.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely! Go and enjoy. It will be an interesting experience for you. I like being invited to my friends' homes for their religious holidays and traditions. So educational and inspiring to learn of other traditions. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Me too, OP. I am so intrigued by it!

[Anonymous]

Absolutely! But a lot of the food has matzoh meal in it, so make sure you talk to your host before you eat. There may not be a ton that's gluten free, so maybe bring a dish you can eat and go for the experience, not the meal.

[Anonymous]

Most of the food will have matzah in it. If I know someone is glutten free, I buy the glutten free matzah meal.

Go and have fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely! But a lot of the food has matzoh meal in it, so make sure you talk to your host before you eat. There may not be a ton that's gluten free, so maybe bring a dish you can eat and go for the experience, not the meal.

Don't bring a dish unless you've talked to him about what his level of observance is. Something you make is unlikely to be kosher for passover, and that could be a problem for some people.

If you're invited, then of course you should go. But a seder is similar to a dinner party -- rude to invite yourself over unless you and he are very, very good friends.

[Anonymous]

In the Haggadah I use, it points out that we should invite people to our seder, as we were strangers in the land of Egypt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the Haggadah I use, it points out that we should invite people to our seder, as we were strangers in the land of Egypt.

I I most of us were brought up this way. So if a friend says to me, I've never been and would to try it, my response is dinner starts at 6 please just bring yourself ( your family) and we'll see you then.

There is always way too much food and to have extra people really is not a big deal. I think one year I ended up with an extra 8 between the time I woke up and the time dinner was served.

[Anonymous]

It's rude to invite yourself, but if you're invited, go. The most important thing to know is that you won't just sit down and eat - you read the story of Passover first. It's long. The shortest reading I've ever attended is an hour and a half. Longest is four hours.

So be ready to sit. And sit. And sit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's rude to invite yourself, but if you're invited, go. The most important thing to know is that you won't just sit down and eat - you read the story of Passover first. It's long. The shortest reading I've ever attended is an hour and a half. Longest is four hours.

So be ready to sit. And sit. And sit.

Wow - I had no idea it was that long. Does one person read the whole thing or do several people do it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's rude to invite yourself, but if you're invited, go. The most important thing to know is that you won't just sit down and eat - you read the story of Passover first. It's long. The shortest reading I've ever attended is an hour and a half. Longest is four hours.

So be ready to sit. And sit. And sit.

Wow - I had no idea it was that long. Does one person read the whole thing or do several people do it?

Each person runs it differently. At each seder I've been to except one, there's always been "audience participation."

[Anonymous]

Don't invite yourself

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely! But a lot of the food has matzoh meal in it, so make sure you talk to your host before you eat. There may not be a ton that's gluten free, so maybe bring a dish you can eat and go for the experience, not the meal.

Don't bring a dish unless you've talked to him about what his level of observance is. Something you make is unlikely to be kosher for passover, and that could be a problem for some people.

If you're invited, then of course you should go. But a seder is similar to a dinner party -- rude to invite yourself over unless you and he are very, very good friends.

Given that the sedarim were supposed to be last night and tonight and he's instead doing a seder in the middle of Chol Hamoed, I would guess he isn't that observant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely! But a lot of the food has matzoh meal in it, so make sure you talk to your host before you eat. There may not be a ton that's gluten free, so maybe bring a dish you can eat and go for the experience, not the meal.

Don't bring a dish unless you've talked to him about what his level of observance is. Something you make is unlikely to be kosher for passover, and that could be a problem for some people.

If you're invited, then of course you should go. But a seder is similar to a dinner party -- rude to invite yourself over unless you and he are very, very good friends.

Manischewitz wine - always a safe bet

[Anonymous]

Reform seders are the best - all the fun and food w/o much tradition.