[1]Last night, I participated in the annual ritual of the Seder (meaning “order”), during which Jews around the world are obliged to re-tell one of the greatest liberation stories ever told. There were 24 guests at the lively dinner I was invited to, 8 of whom were teenaged or younger, along with their parents, and a set of grandparents. I was the only unmarried adult in the room. I’ve been in this situation many times, but it still pierces my heart, as I look around at lives that look similar to mine, but, in so many ways, are not. Intrinsic to the Seder is the asking of questions. So I’ll throw one into the mix: Are we single because we’re different, or different because we’re single?
Image: Grosse Dame, 2007, by Christoph Ruckhäberle