d’var torah
Passover: Renewed and
New Meanings
BY RABBI BARRY DOV LERNER
W Passover
hat do you remember most
vividly about your earliest
seder experience?
Many of us have memories of our respec-
tive Passover experiences with the input of
family and friends, and most are pleasant if
not inspiring. And now, this year, we have
the most recent memories, supplemented
perhaps with pictures, melodies and mem-
ories of sedarim from the past.

But are we ready to say “Dayenu”
enough? Passover may now be ending
this year. However, I’m already planning
for next year. First, why?
Th e famed Reform preacher Rabbi
Stephen S. Wise oft en taught that for each
Shabbat he composed three sermons: one,
was the fi rst one he wrote; second was the
d’var Torah that he actually preached;
and last was on the way home, the one he
Obituaries should have shared.

Passover has similar parallels.

Th ere is the seder we plan; the seder we
celebrated; and then the seder we should
have planned. But there is next year for
what we will perform.

Th e recipes for each meal are reviewed
and chosen — for which they shopped
and which they presented.

Haggadot have been examined, poten-
tial seder discussion topics and new
Biblical and archaeological discoveries
that can’t be overlooked are marked with
Post-its, ready for an appearance.

However, I must also think ahead.

For next year, there are an increasing
number of seder plate symbols, so much
so that the table itself must become the
seder “plate” [k’arah] to contain them all.

Let’s plan to continue sharing a list of
all the new and innovative seder plate
symbols that has evolved to address the
issue of inclusivity and bringing in those
who still feel marginalized.

RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
Continued from Page 23
while Helen supervised the offi ce
and maintained the family home in
Merion. It was a home fi lled with
four children, extended family, many
pets and many friends, who came
to enjoy Helen’s legendary cooking.

Helen enjoyed travel, theater, the
Culinary Arts, and most of all, her
children, grandchildren and great
grandchildren. She died peacefully
surrounded by family. She was the
wife of the late Leonard B. Simmons,
VMD (z’l); mother of Robert J. Sim-
mons (Doreen Davis) (z’l), David A.

Simmons (Jill Inverso), Rachel Kull
(Stanley), and Dean S. Simmons
(Silvia); grandmother of Emma
Magnus (Courcy), Sarah Kull (Ty-
ler Alfermann), Lily Kull (Jonathan
Shamberg), and Samatha Simmons
(Jason Besecker) and great-grand-
mother of Liv Marie Magnus, Beatrix
Alfermann and Bronson Magnus.

Contributions in her memory may
be made to a charity of the donor’s
choice. GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
24 WOLF
ADELE S. (NEE SOLOMON)-On
April 7, 2022, wife of the late J. Jay
Wolf, mother of Judith (Barry) Lu-
tzky, and the late Aron Wolf, moth-
er-in-law of Michelle Wolf, sister of
Rachel Kruskal, grandmother of
Rachel and Daniel Wolf. Contribu-
tions in her memory may be made
to the Pancreatic Action Network
(PanCan). Shiva will be observed
Sunday only, at the late residence.

JOSEPH LEVINE AND SONS
www.levinefuneral.com WOLF
NORMA WOLF (nee Rudnick), April
10, 2022. Wife of the late Irving Wolf
and Herbert Berstein. Mother of Mi-
chael (Jeanette) Berstein and the
late Karen (Brad) Ernest. Grand-
mother of Hannah (Dale) Stevens,
Aaron Berstein, Hana (Andrew)
Hudson and Rachel Ernest. Great
grandmother of Kameron. Contribu-
tions in her memory may be made to
the American Cancer Society, 1818
APRIL 21, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
Some “new” additions have become
“semi-traditional” and are well-known,
such as the orange on the seder plate. I
found in my fi les one I had forgotten — an
alternative symbol for LGBTQ inclusivity.

Here is the backstory: Invited to a
seder, a guest asked the host if she could
add cinnamon sticks. When asked why,
she explained: “Judaism has made huge
strides towards inclusiveness for the
LGBT community. I chose to add cin-
namon sticks to my seder plate because
it can be bitter by itself or be used to
sweeten a greater whole; we do use it
in charoset. Many traditions use it to
symbolize spirituality, healing and love
— and when you combine them you get
acceptance. I fi nally feel the LGBT com-
munity is fully accepted by Judaism and
use the cinnamon stick to symbolize it.”
Th e host, a “Conservadox rabbi” said,
“You can never take anything away from
the seder, but you can always add. I like
the symbolism. When you come over,
Market Street, Suite 2820, Philadel-
phia, Pennsylvania 19103, www.

cancer.org or to a charity of the do-
nor’s choice.

GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
YANKS Karen Yanks passed away on April
11, 2022. She is survived by her de-
voted husband of 58 years, Harvey
Yanks, and her three children, Barrie,
Lauren, and James, and her three
grandchildren, Hannah, Sophia, and
Jacob Dylan (JD). Karen was very
loved and deeply missed by all. Kar-
en was a life master bridge player
and she loved going to the movies,
fi nishing the Sunday crossword, lying
in the Florida sun, spending time with
her grandchildren, and most of all,
she cherished and was cherished by
her friends and family. Contributions
in her memory may be made to The
Blue Butterfl y Foundation, PO Box
387, Tillson, NY 12486, or at www.

bluebutterfl yfoundation.org.

GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL SACKS
www.goldsteinsfuneral.com ZOLOT
make sure you bring a sealed glass bottle
of cinnamon sticks so we can add one to
the seder plate.” I was so overjoyed that my
eyes began to tear. I am truly blessed to
be a part of such an amazing community.

For next year, we should encourage the
use of additional edible and even inedible
symbols to promote asking questions.

Encourage everyone to seize this oppor-
tunity to new meaning for a new symbol
for freedom, justice and blessing in a place
where there is still none. JE
Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner is the presi-
dent of Traditional Kosher Supervision,
Inc. Th e Board of Rabbis of Greater
Philadelphia is proud to provide diverse
perspectives on Torah commentary
for the Jewish Exponent. Th e opin-
ions expressed in this column are the
author’s own and do not refl ect the view
of the Board of Rabbis.

Bernard “Bernie”, April 9, 2022 of Nar-
berth, PA. Born in 1927 and raised
in a musical family, took to percus-
sion instruments and was a talented
drummer and bongo player. After
graduating from West Philadelphia
High School, he enrolled at Penn
State and interrupted college to enlist
in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

His ship, the U.S.S. Whittier, supplied
cargo and munitions to ports in the
Pacifi c and Indian Oceans. After the
War, he joined the Bilt-Well Furniture
Company, a family business begun by
his father Charles. He and his broth-
er Mickey developed the business
into two companies, adding Tri-Mark
Designs. At Tri-Mark, Bernie was a vi-
sionary who embraced the modernist
furniture movement of the time. His
innovative styles in metal, glass and
upholstery are now recognized as
classics of the “Mid-Century Modern”
design period. In the 1970’s, a friend
and fellow businessman showed
him a sample of “Ultrasuede” fabric,
a synthetic suede struggling to fi nd
relevance in clothing manufacturing.

Bernie foresaw Ultrasuede’s greater
appeal as an upholstery fabric so he
developed a line of furniture styles to
showcase it. The line’s immediate
success inspired Bernie to pioneer
the distribution of Ultrasuede, now
ubiquitous, to the greater U.S. Home
Furnishings industry. In his leisure
time, Bernie was an accomplished
golfer and was a student of the game.

He was a natural golf teacher who
offered informal tips and lessons that
were valued and enjoyed among his
many playing partners. Bernie is
survived by loving and devoted fam-
ily members, Joan (Levy), his wife of
65 years, sons Craig (Ann), George
(Rafi ) and Roy, grandsons Michael,
Dan and Brian, and an extended
family of relatives and friends. Bernie
maintained lifetime friendships with
childhood buddies from West Phila-
delphia, many of whom he survived
and deeply missed. Please direct
contributions to a charity of donor’s
choice. JOSEPH LEVINE & SONS
MEMORIAL CHAPEL
www.levinefuneral.com