Just Three Paragraphs Chaia Frishman The evening began innocently enough. Kadeish Urchatz Karpas and Yachatz. Hentelach washed vegetable dipped afikomen destination calculated. Maggid. Ha Lachma Anya: the formal Aramaic invitation for company. As if on cue there is a knock at the door. On a normal Shabbos night our house has the feel of Grand Central station. Neighbors borrow chrein young neighbors visit friends come to join in Tehillim. But why would anyone be outside now? I open the door. Surprise! Although they initially turned down our offer to come and stay for Yom Tov my cousin Cheryl and her non-Jewish husband stand at the front door their six-year-old-son David standing between them dressed in a plaid shirt olive corduroys and high-top sneakers… they’ve decided to surprise us and stop in for the Seder! Initially I am thrilled to see my loved ones —Cheryl used to be like my older sister. A needy overdramatic and a tad bit judgmental older sister but a huge part of my life just the same. Shopping mall trips deep phone conversations midnight mani-pedis the works. Her absence from my day-to-day has more to do with geographical distance than divergent religious beliefs but my loyalty to Yiddishkeit definitely put a kink in our relationship.