Dear TBS Community,

Every year, we gather around the Passover table and sing the familiar song,  Ma Nishtana , the Four Questions: "What makes this night different from all other nights?" In light of our current circumstances, I can't help but think,  "Ma nishtana ha-Pesach ha-zeh ? "  There are so many things that make this  Passover  different from all other years. During this holiday, we celebrate our freedom from ancient Egypt - from  Mitzrayim , which in Hebrew literally means, "the narrow place." Perhaps, after a few weeks at home, you are also feeling like you are stuck in a "narrow place!" However, like our many years of wandering in the desert, this journey will not last forever.

Passover traditions vary from individual to individual, family to family. This year, because we have been affected by COVID-19, many of us need to find new and different ways to observe the holiday. I would like to offer some guidance and suggestions as you consider your Passover observance for 5780.

Seder
Although many of us take pleasure in enjoying large seders with friends, family, or community members, I urge you to  stay home . Pikuach nefesh , saving a life, is above all other commandments. Only have a seder with folks living in your household. Consider holding a virtual seder through Facetime, Zoom, or another web-based meeting software. Here are tips on hosting a virtual seder.  

TBS Members Ari and Heather Samson invite our congregants to participate in their seder virtually. If you’re interested, please email Ari directly here.

To make it easier to host a virtual seder, have all participants use the same Haggadah. I’ve created our very own online Temple Beth Shalom Passover Haggadah .   Feel free to email it to your friends and family. It can be downloaded and printed out, or simply use it on the computer screen as is. Our whole community can be connected through the same text.

Looking to have a more traditional or kid friendly seder? Here is an online Traditional Haggadah that I put together for you. If you have a lot of kids at your seder, consider using the PJ Library Online Haggadah or simply give them this Coloring Book Haggadah to keep them busy at the seder table.

AJC has a beautiful Passover Seder Supplement , which contains a prayer during this global pandemic and a responsive reading. 

Food
Keeping Kosher for Passover this year offers new and complicated challenges. Many of us have changed our shopping patterns and have not purchased the Kosher for Passover food we normally would. The Rabbinical Assembly offers guidance and leniencies on keeping kosher during Passover during this health crisis. They are encouraging people to eat kitniyot (which include legumes, rice, and corn) this year, even if it is typically your practice to avoid kitniyot during Pesach. They also have a list of products that you can eat that do not require a Kosher for Passover hechsher (kosher symbol).  You can access their advice here.

One of the prohibitions of Passover is owning chametz (leavened products). There is a legal loophole of selling your chametz to a non-Jewish person for the duration of the holiday.  You can do that here.  

More Resources
United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism (USCJ) has a link to Passover resources here and you can find the Jewish Theological Seminary’s Passover resources including a number of videos here .  

PJ Library has wonderful activities for children you can find here .

Check out MyJewishLearning.com’s Recipe page for wonderful Kosher for Passover recipes .  The website also has a ton of information about different elements of the holiday. 


Passover Music
You can find Passover music on YouTube, Spotify, Pandora, and more. Here is a link to traditional Passover music . 

Jewish A Capella Group the Maccabeats have beautiful versions of Mah Nishtana and Dayeinu  I love the group Six13’s parodies Uptown Passover and a Lion King Passover . 


Webinars
Here are three webinars that might be of interest to you. These are in addition to the weekly virtual meetings I’ve been running on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Wednesday, 4/1 at 12pm
The Cantor’s Assembly presents SongSwap:A Virtual Seder in Song
with special guest, Yosef Goldman

With COVID-19 in the air, literally and figuratively, we figure it'll be more important than ever this year to spice up your seders. While we may feel enslaved by the restrictions placed upon us by local and national authorities, as well as our own better judgement, we can still experience the journey to freedom through the music of Pesah.

 Join Jeremy and Wendi, along with special guest, Yosef Goldman, co-director of Hadar's Rising Song Institute, for a virtual musical seder experience you'll never forget.

Registration required for this special event.


Sunday, 4/5 at 8pm
Why is this Year Different? led by Dr. Ron Wolfson and Cantor Steve Stoehr
(Join using this  Zoom link )
This year's Passover will be unique; learn how you can make it special.


Wednesday, 4/8 at 8am
Siyum Bekhorim on Yerushalmi Brakhot with Rabbi Mordechai Schwartz


Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and health Passover,

Rabbi Sarah