Bill & Ted’s Most Excellent Seder

In Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Keanu Reeves’ real co-star was time machine. In the most epic of movies, famous historical figures were taken from the past and transported to San Dimas, California. There, they participated in the most outstanding high school history project ever. Assuming you had a time machine for Passover, which historical figures would be your guests for a most excellent Seder?

If I had ten choices, I would want the Seder, the re-telling of the Exodus, to be interesting, educational, and entertaining. Thus, my choices aren’t necessarily top ten biblical figures. Likewise, also interactions are a factor. Who would you like to see have conversations?

For my choices, I limited myself to Old Testament figures. I invite you to put your lists in Comments section. I would propose three categories: (1) Old Testament, (2) Both Old and New Testament, and last, (3) any historical figure.

Each list gets a bonus guest – Elijah the Prophet. Since Elijah already has his cup at every Seder table, his presence is a foregone conclusion. With that, one can say that the guest list goes to an eleven.

My Most Excellent List

My Old Testament list is as follows: Hannah, Deborah, Miriam, Moses, Hezekiah, the Hebrew Slave who called out Moses for killing taskmaster, the Pharaoh, Jethro, Zipporah, and Abraham.

My thought process is as follows: Hannah, Samuel’s mother, is someone who is fiery. She sings: “The Lord! He makes poor, gives wealth, brings low, but also lifts up high! God raises the poor from the dust, lifts up the needy from the garbage pile. God sits them with officials, gives them the seat of honor!” 1 Samuel 2:7-8. Her observations would be priceless. Certainly, she is deserving of a “seat of honor.”

Deborah is another singer for the table. She sang ” the mountains quaked before the Lord, the One of Sinai, before the Lord, the God of Israel. Judges 5:5. I wonder as to what she knew about Mt. Sinai. I would love to see her-a great leader- compare notes with Moses and others.

Miriam is still another singer for the table. Who better to channel the spirit of the Exodus than the person who was present and sang: “I will sing to the Lord,  for he is highly exalted. Exodus 15:1.

Moses’ selection requires no explanation.

King Hezekiah would be interesting on two levels. He instituted one of the all time Passover celebrations referenced in the Hebrew BIble. Also, he destroyed Moses’ Nehushtan- bronze serpent. His interaction with Moses would be priceless.

The Hebrew Slave would be fascinating. He would offer an amazing perspective from start to finish. His appraisal of Moses would be…excellent to hear.

The Pharaoh being at a Seder would certainly be fascinating. He certainly can fill in some gaps and offer a unique perspective.

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, is perhaps the most interesting of people. One must wonder as to his actual role in Moses’ development.

Zipporah, Moses’ wife, offers the perspective of the trials one faces being a leader’s spouse.

Abraham, the Patriarch, would be my last pick. For him, he gets to time travel to see his future and the covenant in effect. He also has some tales that happened in Egypt.

Conclusion

Please feel free to post your lists below. Chag sameach.

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