Why does the Haggadah enjoin us not just to remember but to put ourselves in that place, in that moment in time, and believe ourselves to have been part of it? Doing so can connect us across dimensions of time and space, tying Jewish peoplehood together in this foundational narrative.
Rabbi Neal Borovitz | Rabbi Emeritus at Temple Avodat Shalom, New Jersey, USA The third book of Torah, similar to the book of Exodus/ Sh’mot, which we have just completed, is known to us by two names. In English we refer to the book by the descriptive name given it by the ancient Jews of […]
Here we are in our Exodus, a process that, being a part of as it happens, seems completely normal and even ordinary. At Shaarei Shalom, we were readying and preparing for a robust schedule of Pesach activities. We had gathered together – a large, noisy group comprised of individuals from every age-range – for our community Seder. We drank wine, and ate everything on our Seder plates.
What is the single most important thing we can have at our Passover table?My father would argue that it is my late Bubbe’s Wine Cake. When I was little, I might have said that it was the maror to go on top of the gefilte fish. A gardener might focus on the karpas, with its greenery and symbols of spring. My rabbinic colleagues might say it is the Matzah.
With Pesach right around the corner, our World Union Reform and Progressive congregations across the globe are making preparations for their communal sedarim.
For more than 15 years, the Passover Project has sent rabbinic students from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion to Reform congregations across Russia, Ukraine and Belarus to lead Passover celebrations. Every year, students join growing congregations for traditional and innovative programs and services designed to bolster the communities.
Passover is on the way. Time to put away the hametz and get set for the “yumminess” provided by matzah. It’s not good enough to just avoid purchasing leavened goods; rather we must actively seek out any remnants of these items in the house and dispose of them. Or at the very least, loan them out. We engage our broomsticks and search for and sweep up those leftover crumbs. Just as important, we need to identify the metaphorical hametz that provides excuses for our inaction. This too ought to be a planned precise procedure. We know deep down in our hearts that in emerging from the winter months, we should gear ourselves up for renewal. Passover is a perfectly suited opportunity to inspire us to serve as advocates for a compassionate globe.
Every year, the Sociedad Israelita Brasileira (SIBRA) Congregation in Porte Alegre, Brazil, of which I am the President, comes together to celebrate Passover in a communal seder. This year, drawing upon years of the good and deep relationship between both our communities and spiritual leaders, the Archbishop of Porto Alegre, Dom Jaime Spengler, invited SIBRA […]
As the Passover holiday nears – April 10-17 (in Israel), we’ve been gathering articles, recipes and printables to help enhance your celebration of this experiential holiday. Follow our Passover Pinterest board for ideas and inspiration for everything from your Seder, to the Haggadah, to the last days of matzah-eating – or click through for additional […]
…following kosher guidelines for the holidays help us add another level of holiness to our lives. It connects us back to our history, to our people and ultimately to god.