Why Is There an Orange on the Seder Plate?

 In the days long ago

 when women were just beginning

 to be rabbis, Susannah Heschel was traveling

 in Florida, the Land of Oranges. One night she

 spoke at a synagogue about the emerging equality

 of women in Jewish life -- as rabbis, teachers

 and students of Torah, synagogue presidents,

 and in all other ways. After she spoke,

 a man arose in wrath,  red with fury.


 "A woman belongs on the bimah [pulpit],"

 he said, "as much as bread belongs
 
 on the Seder plate!"


 "No," said our sister Susannah; 

 "The teachings of women do not 

 violate the tradition, but renew it.

 Women bring to the bimah what an

 orange would bring to the Seder plate:

 transformation, not transgression."

 
 So ever since that day, we place 

 an orange on the Seder plate,

 for it belongs there as a symbol

that  women belong wherever Jews carry on a sacred life.
 

(From: Rabbi Arthur Waskow

Subject: Hagaddah Additions:
Why Is There an Orange on the Seder Plate?

[Add an orange to the traditional items on

the Seder plate. Then invite someone to ask

"one more question," as above,

and tell [this] story in response:]