Passover begins at sundown on Wednesday, April 5.
This page contains a variety of resources from Rabbi Ruhi Sophia, Rabbi Solomon, and others to assist you in creating your own seder experience.
This page contains a variety of resources from Rabbi Ruhi Sophia, Rabbi Solomon, and others to assist you in creating your own seder experience.
Seders
The Passover Seder is one of the most important home rituals in the Jewish tradition. Two people together are enough to make a seder! For those of who are on your own or unable to do the seder yourselves, we are offering two ways to participate in TBI seder this year!
On April 5th, the first evening of Passover, Rabbi Solomon is leading a virtual Community Seder. Enjoy a short seder with the community, then have dinner on your own. Sign up below.
On April 6th, the second evening of Passover, Rabbi Ruhi Sophia is leading an in-person Community seder. Enjoy singing in community, guided discussion and a catered dinner. Sign up below. Deadline to signup is Thurs, Mar 30, 5:00pm.
Services
There will be Passover services at the following times:
10:00 am on the 1st day (Thursday, April 6)
9:00 am on the 7th day (Wednesday, April 12)
9:00 am on the 8th day (Thursday, April 13) including Yizkor/memorial prayers (YouTube link is here)
Masks required in sanctuary.
Kasher the Kitchen w/Rabbi Ruhi Sophia
Do a mitzvah and learn about koshering for Pesach! We need up to 8 people per shift.
Cantor Mark Levy’s Old World Passover Concert
Have you ever heard the Four Questions chanted in Yiddish or Ladino? Or Chad Gadya, Echad Mi Yodea, Adir Hu? These are the traditional songs of Pesach, sung in Hebrew around the Seder table each and every year to commemorate the Exodus from slavery in Egypt.
FREE for TBI members; $10 for non-members.
Attend the TBI First Night Zoom Seder led by Rabbi Solomon
Wednesday, April 5, 5:30pm
The TBI Virtual Community Seder will be using A Different Night Haggadah, by master educators Noam Zion and David Dishon. You can download it for free. Look at it in advance and familiarize yourself with the format, art, and great questions! Pages 12 – 15 will help you prepare your home and heart for the experience.
The seder will take no more than an hour.
Please see “Wednesday, April 5th” section in the step-by-step list below so that you’re ready to go at 5:30pm on the 5th.
Attend the TBI Second Night Seder in person led by Rabbi Ruhi Sophia
Thursday, April 6, 5:30pm
Tired of making seder on your own the past few years? Looking to be in person with a larger community? At the TBI Second Night Seder we’ll provide the Haggadah, set up the seder plate and provide a catered dinner. All you need to bring is your voice and your questions. The seder will begin at 5:30pm. Light nosh will be available from near the beginning, and dinner will be served by 6:45 pm. We’ll finish by no later than 8pm. Because we need to get accurate numbers to the caterer, we cannot accept late registration. We also cannot accept drop-ins. Please plan ahead and register by Thursday, Mar 30, 5:00pm.
Here is Rabbi Ruhi Sophia’s guide for those who are managing their own seder for the first time. Download guide here.
ASAP:
In the next two weeks:
In the final days leading up to Pesach:
Tuesday and Wednesday, April 4th and 5th:
Tuesday eve after dark, April 4th: Bedikat Chametz: (here’s the liturgy and here’s a demonstration).
Wednesday, April 5th:
The most important thing about a seder is that it is an opportunity to internalize the Exodus story, make it come alive for today. There is a wide variety of Haggadah options and, depending on your household, different options will be right for you.
IF YOU HAVE TIME AND CREATIVITY TO DO IT YOURSELF:
IF YOU NEED TO DOWNLOAD A SHORT, KID-FRIENDLY SEDER:
IF YOU WANT TO BUY A PHYSICAL HAGGADAH BOOK:
Supplemental Seder Materials:
Videos and source sheets by Rabbi Ruhi Sophia (geared towards Talmud Torah students, informative for adults as well!). (And here’s a link to the entire playlist.)
Article by Rabbi Solomon to get ready for Passover. Tambourines of Hope: 10 Tips so Passover doesn’t Pass Us Over
Haggadah supplements from various Jewish non-profits
Music: Find traditional and contemporary versions of Passover songs here.
General Passover info from a Reform Jewish perspective: go here. It features many links, including history, customs and rituals, Passover family activities, food and recipes.
The Ten Plagues: This one-page document has ideas for discussing the Ten Plagues with children.
18 Doors: Lots of good material here, particularly for interfaith families.
The big mitzvot of Pesach are to eat matzah during Pesach, and to get rid of chametz (leavened foods) in advance of Pesach. But there are other traditional foods featured during the seder. You can find out the symbolism of each in detail here; for your shopping purposes, they’re listed below:
The Open Door: A Passover Haggadah, by Sue Levi Elwell and Ruth Weisberg
A Family Haggadah, Shoshana Silberman
A Different Night: The Family Participation Haggadah, Noam Zinn and David Dishon
The Jewish Journey Haggadah, Adena Berkowitz
The Art of Jewish Living: The Passover Seder, Dr. Ron Wolfson
Keeping Passover: Everything You need to Know to Bring the Ancient Tradition to Life and to Create Your Own Passover Celebration, Ira Steingroot
Creating Lively Passover Seders: A Sourcebook of Engaging Tales, Texts & Activities, David Arnow
Make Your Own Passover Seder: A New Approach to Creating a Personal Family Celebration, Alan Abraham Kay and Jo Kay