A Seder in Sixty Minutes? Absolutely!

CHANDLER, Ariz. - Nov. 19, 2013 - PRLog -- Modern Jewish families who shy away from participating in the annual Passover Seder due to its typical two- to five-hour ceremony, will cheer Cass and Nellie Foster's Sixty-Minute Seder: Preserving the Essence of the Passover Haggadah.

"We are indebted to Cass and Nellie Foster for taking the bold step of creating a revolutionary Haggadah that offers a path to creating a superb alternative to the traditional Haggadah by offering us choices and helping us with planning," says Rabbi Jerome M. Epstein, CEO/Executive Vice President Emeritus, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. "For those who seek a modified Seder that will stimulate discussion, inspire interest, and educate Jews within a range of backgrounds, you will find the Sixty-Minute Seder to be a perfect script for the Pesach drama."

Cass Foster, the renowned author of the popular Sixty-Minute Shakespeare series, created this condensed version of the traditional Haggadah used during Seder at the urging of his Shakespeare series fans, friends and family. They were certain he was the ideal candidate to trim the service to one hour while still maintaining the integrity, meaning and beauty of the holy event.

"To Seder or not to Seder should not be the question," says Foster. "In this fast-paced world, many Jewish families were choosing not to participate in Seder because it was just so long. I even reached the point where I was putting myself to sleep during my own Seders. This new Haggadah gives families a better choice - how long to observe Seder."

While Foster developed the text, he credits his wife, Nellie, with providing suggestions for the Seder meal and the remaining Passover days including recipes families can create together.

"With more than 3,500 Haggadahs in print and no two having the same content, revisiting the Haggadah is not unheard of," says Linda F. Radke, president of Five Star Publications, Inc., the parent company of Six Points Press, which publishes Foster's book. "Though pared down to only sixty minutes, this Haggadah still has it all, from planning to preparation to the actual presentation of the Seder. It is an easy-to-follow guide that covers everything you need to know to honor and celebrate the traditional Passover Seder as intended."

Scheduled for release in February 2014, the book is already garnering praise. "Cass and Nellie Foster have done an amazing job of sifting the essence of the Passover ritual from the embellishments of time. Each section is explained clearly, with the appropriate blessings in Hebrew and transliteration," says Rabbi Judith HaLevy of the Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue. "The symbols are explained in a manner accessible to Jews and non-Jews alike …Best of all, Nellie's family recipes make it possible for anyone to create a Splendid Seder Meal."

Sixty-Minute Seder: Preserving the Essence of the Passover Haggadah, (ISBN: 978-1-58985-260-0, $12.95 softbound; 978-1-58985-261-7 eBook) is a Six Points Press, a division of Five Star Publications, Inc. product distributed by Ingram, Baker & Taylor and Midpoint Trade Books. The book will soon be available at major bookstores, BarnesandNoble.com, Amazon.com and www.FiveStarPublications.com. For more information about the book, visit www.SixtyMinuteSeder.com.

To learn more about Five Star Publications, Inc., now celebrating 28 years in business, and its other award-winning books, visit the website, email info@FiveStarPublications.com or call 480-940-8182.