A SEDER FOR THE AGES TRADITION RUNS DEEP AT HOME FOR ELDERLY.

Byline: SUSAN ABRAM Staff Writer

RESEDA - For Beverly Rubin, there's no better way to observe Passover than to raise a wine glass and break the unleavened bread known as matzo with hundreds of her peers.

"That's what makes this so wonderful," said the 76-year-old woman, who participated in the second night of a community Passover Seder on Thursday as part of an annual tradition at the Jewish Home for the Aging in Reseda.

Rubin, surrounded by her husband, son, grandchildren and more than 350 people, sang and prayed and shared in the ritual meal that symbolizes the ancient Hebrews' flight from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the promised land.

Each year, the Seder service holds particular meaning for the Jewish home because it was founded on Passover in 1912.

But more importantly, the service brings the generations together, said Rabbi William Gordon, who has led the Passover Seder at the home for 12 years. Of the 500 residents there, the average age is 92. And almost 40 of the residents are 100 years old or more.

"Many of our residents have outlived their family. We want them to feel important, and we We do not allow the residents to say they came here to die. We tell them, you came here to live."

Jessica Enman, 25, came to the Seder to be with her father Arnold Enman, who has been ill.

"It's a great opportunity to see the older generation of Jews express their cultures in one community," she said of the diversity among the residents. "It's interesting to see them all together for this untraditional Seder."

Lillie Ginsberg, 99, who sat with her friends Suzanne May, 88, and Norma Linn, 85, said she'd like to invert the numbers in her age to 66, the way she feels.

"I've invited friends to this Seder, and I tell them, you'll never sit at another Seder like this one," Linn said.

May agreed.

"It's not about having age," she said. "It's about having time."

With his grandparents Saul and Beverly Rubin watching, and his father Michael Rubin at his side, 10-year-old Jesse took part in the ceremonial feast, which features among its symbolic foods boiled eggs, to represent a triumph of life over death; parsley for springtime; and matzo representing the lack of time for the bread to rise in the Israelites' quick flight.

"I really like that it gives everyone a chance to be here," Jesse said. "Not every Jewish family gets to have a Seder, and I feel very happy that my grandparents get to experience this."

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com

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CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Max and Rhoda Hirt take part in the reading of prayers led by Rabbi William Gordon during the Passover Seder held at the Jewish Home for the Aging on Thursday in Reseda. Hundreds of residents and their family members gathered at the home for a traditional Seder.

(2) Rabbi William Gordon has led the Passover Seder at the Jewish Home for the Aging in Reseda for 12 years.

Alex Collins/Special to the Daily News