TELL May-June 2020

DISCOVERING RITUAL
Rabbi Jacqueline Ninio
I am fascinated by the origins of customs and traditions. I remember, for a time in the
Heritage Sanctuary, when carrying the Torah around, people took the Torah out the doors
into the foyer and then back in the other door, rather than walking along the back row.
This began when we did some
repairs and the configuration of the
pews was altered, leaving no space
to carry the Torah. Eventually, the
issue was fixed, but people had
become accustomed to carrying the
Torah outside, and so continued
to do so even when the problem
was resolved. I am not sure how we
returned to the usual route through
the back row but it could easily
have become a unique custom and
feature of Emanuel Synagogue!
Last year, just before Pesach, while
browsing Judaica shops on-line and
in person, I noticed that many were
offering a “Miriam’s Cup.” There
were beautiful designs and stunning
representations of a cup which
can be placed on the seder table
and filled with water, in honour of
Miriam, Moses’ sister. Miriam was
integral to the Pesach story. She
was the one who followed Moses’
basket down the Nile, ensuring
he was safe in the arms of the
Pharaoh’s daughter. She ensconced
her mother as Moses’ wet nurse
and some traditions even suggest
that she, along with her mother,
were the rebellious midwives who
refused to follow Pharaoh’s decree.
When the people were miraculously
redeemed from Egypt, Miriam, like
Moses, sang a song at the shores
of the sea. Also, the midrash links
her to a magical well of water
which followed the people during
their desert wanderings. It says
that the well was provided due to
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Miriam’s merit, and in her honour.
So, given Miriam’s pivotal role in
the story, and a more recent focus
on including women and their
narratives into our rituals, it makes
sense that Miriam would be the one
connected with the Pesach seder.
Given the midrash, it's appropriate
that she would have a cup filled
with water, sitting beside the cup
of wine for Elijah. This innovative
custom has captured people’s
imagination, so much so, that it
has become almost mainstream
at Pesach and now also, beyond.
At many of the occasions where
we celebrate with wine, people are
adding a cup of water for Miriam.
But where did it begin? Who was
the first to think of placing a cup
of water for Miriam on the seder
table?
Recently, as I began preparing for
our sedarim at the synagogue, I