Pre-Pesah Programming
Body, Heart, and Soul: Preparing For Pesach
Congregation B'nai Amoona - St. Louis, MO
4 Wednesday mornings (March 3, 10, 17, & 24) at 11:00 AM ET, 10:00 AM CT, 8:00 AM PT, 6:00 PM Israel time
Learn with the B'nai Amoona Klei Kodesh as we prepare for Pesach. Contact Vickie Shuchart at Vickie@bnaiamoona.com to get RSVP details.
Releasing Our Spiritual Hametz with CAA Past President Kathy Englebardt, LCSW-R
Congregation Agudat Achim - Niskayuna, NY
4 Wednesdays (March 3, 10, 17, & 24) from 1:00-2:30 PM ET, 12:00-1:30 PM CT, 10:00-11:30 AM PT, 8:00-9:30 PM Israel time
The Haggadah commands us that each year we must see ourselves as slaves in Egypt experiencing the freedom of the Exodus. We do this physically before Pesach by ridding our homes, cars, offices, (all of our living spaces) of leavened products: “hametz.” In this way we re-enact our lives as slaves, who fled Egypt with no time to even allow our bread to rise. During the Seder we eat matzoh and bitter herbs to experience the bitterness of slavery and we eat charoseth to remind of us of the mortar we used building store cities. This connects us physically to our experience as slaves. But what of our internal Hametz? What of the negativity, improper speech, toxic relationships and the mitzrayim - the narrowness - of our spirits? What of the “al cheyts” we confessed at Yom Kippur, thinking that this year we will do better? Fortunately, we are offered another opportunity. In this four part discussion workshop, we will meet via Congregation Agudat Achim’s Zoom channel to clarify for ourselves our own personal, spiritual hametz. Through reading biblical and other texts, we will identify the hametz that clutters our daily lives and keeps us enslaved. Register here by March 3.
Unexplored Characters of the Passover Story
Congregation Am HaYam - Ventura, California
3 Wednesdays (March 10, 17, & 24) at 10:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM PT, 5:00 AM Israel time (Thursday)
- Pharaoh As A Character at Passover - March 10
- Joseph's Hidden and Persistent Presence in the Passover Haggadah - March 17
- Images and Implications of Elijah at the Seder - March 24
Please email Rabbi J.B. Sacks for link and/or more information at rabbijbsacks@gmail.com.
Through Parted Waters: A Community Passover Learning
Congregation B'nai Moshe - West Bloomfield, MI
Monday, March 15 from 6:45-8:15 PM ET, 5:45-7:15 PM CT, 3:45-5:15 PM PT, 1:45 AM Israel time (Tuesday)
Rabbis of Michigan share inspiration to help prepare for the journey to freedom. Register here.
Passover Family Sing-Along
Leffell School – Westchester, NY
Sunday, March 21 from 10:00-10:30 AM EST, 9:00-9:30 AM CT, 7:00-7:30 AM PT, 5:00-5:30 PM Israel time
Join us to practice the Ma Nishtana, Dayenu, and more! This interactive and engaging Zoom class was recently featured in The New York Times.
Contact: Rabbi Yael Buechler at ybuechler@leffellschool.org
Freedom for Whom? A Pre-Passover Webinar with JTS
Taught by Rabbi Eliezer Diamond, PhD, Rabbi Judah Nadich Associate Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics, JTS
Monday, March 22 from 2:00–3:30 PM ET, 1:00-2:30 PM CT, 11:00 AM-12:30 PM PT, 9:00-10:30 PM Israel time
First and foremost, the traditional Haggadah celebrates our liberation from Egypt. At the same time, it reflects our experience of oppression over the course of many centuries. It is therefore a plea to be redeemed anew that reflects and potentially re-enforces an adversarial relationship with the non-Jewish world. In our own time the Jews of the United States and Israel enjoy unprecedented freedom. How do we honor the voice of tradition while also including the modern voices seeking liberation for all? Participation is free but registration is required.
Passover Jew-pardy
Bet Shira – Miami, FL
Monday, March 22 at 8:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM CT, 5:00 PM PT, 3:00 AM Israel time (Tuesday)
See if you can stump the other team with hard Passover trivia questions! RSVP to Rabbi Ben Herman at rabbi@betshira.org for the Zoom link.
Children's Education: Passover Storytime for Tots with Librarian Rebecca Stashower
Congregation Agudat Achim - Niskayuna, NY
Wednesday, March 24 from 5:00-5:30 PM ET, 4:00-4:30 PM CT, 2:00-2:30 PM PT, 12:00 AM Israel time (Thursday)
Sing and read with Rebecca in before Passover! Register here.
Virtual Seder Options
Bet Shira – Miami, FL
Saturday, March 27 at 6:30 PM ET, 5:30 PM CT, 3:30 PM PT, 1:30 AM Israel time (Sunday)
Join Rabbi Ben Herman at his home Seder via Zoom! We begin at 6:30 with some songs followed by a family-friendly entertaining Seder. Please RSVP to Rabbi Herman at rabbi@betshira.org for Zoom info.
Family Friendly Seder Led by Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham and Cantor Sharon Nathanson on Zoom and Livestream
Congregation B'nai Amoona - St. Louis, MO
Saturday, March 27 from 6:30-7:30 PM ET, 5:30-6:30 PM CT, 3:30-4:30 PM PT, 1:30-2:30 AM Israel time (Sunday)
Contact Vickie Shuchart at Vickie@bnaiamoona.com to get RSVP details.
Community Seder led by Rabbi Rafi Spitzer
Congregation Agudat Achim - Niskayuna, NY
Sunday, March 28 at 5:15 PM ET, 4:15 PM CT, 2:15 PM PT, 12:15 AM Israel time (Monday)
Join Rabbi Spitzer and his family for an engaging seder experience. This Seder will be geared toward adults and families, in the hope that kids 8/9+ will be able to participate fully. There will be breakout rooms for the dinner portion of the Seder so that people will be able to meet each other and eat in smaller groups. Register here by Thursday, March 25.
Congregation B'nai Moshe - West Bloomfield, MI
Sunday, March 28 at 6:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM CT, 3:00 PM PT, 1:00 AM Israel time (Monday)
Rabbi Shalom Kantor of Congregation B'nai Moshe in Michigan and his family welcome you to join them for a fun and interactive second seder. RSVP here by Thursday, March 25.
A Livestreamed Folk Musical Second Seder
Beth Israel Congregation - Ann Arbor, MI
Sunday, March 28 at 6:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM CT, 3:00 PM PT, 1:00 AM Israel time (Monday)
From the serious to the sublime, from the joyful to the thoughtful, the Seder’s words and themes are melded into classic songs from Bob Marley, Leonard Cohen, Greg Brown, Matisyahu, and U2. Meant for adults but enjoyed by all, grab your seder plate and four cups, gather 'round a large screen tv and turn on the soundbar, and enjoy a musical second seder. No RSVP necessary. We will broadcast with a live band and Rabbi Caine via Youtube at 6:00 PM ET on Sunday March 28th on the Beth Israel Congregation of Ann Arbor Youtube channel.
Communal Seder Led by Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose and Rabbi Neal Rose on Zoom and Livestream
Congregation B'nai Amoona - St. Louis, MO
Sunday, March 28 at 7:15 PM ET, 6:15 PM CT, 4:15 PM PT, 2:15 AM Israel time (Monday)
Contact Vickie Shuchart at Vickie@bnaiamoona.com to get RSVP details.
Congregation Am HaYam - Ventura, California
Sunday, March 28 at 8:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM CT, 5:00 PM PT, 3:00 AM Israel time (Monday)
Please contact Rabbi J.B. Sacks for more information and link at rabbijbsacks@gmail.com.
Congregation Cnesses Israel - Green Bay, WI
Sunday, March 28 at 8:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM CT, 5:00 PM PT, 3:00 AM Israel time (Monday)
All are invited. Please reach out to Moishe Steigmann at moishe@themindfulrabbi.com if you are interested in attending.
Temple B'nai Israel – Aurora, IL
Sunday, March 28 at 8:15 PM ET, 7:15 PM CT, 5:15 PM PT, 3:15 AM Israel time (Monday)
Rabbi Edward Friedman in Aurora, IL, will be sharing his personal seder on the second night of Passover with congregants and friends and others who would like to join a full seder. We will begin at 7:15 pm CDT, take a break for our individual dinners and resume afterwards for the concluding prayers. To join, please contact the Temple B'nai Israel office at office@Temple-Bnai-Israel.org for the Zoom link.
Temple Etz Chaim – Thousand Oaks, CA
Sunday, March 28
Family seder geared toward younger children and their families. Details are still being finalized, but please reach out to lindsey@templeetzchaim.org if you are interested in joining us.