Passover resources

Chag Sameach to all - a Happy Passover.  Remember, Passover is a reminder that we have been in difficult positions before and are still here to celebrate.  Let us try to bring that strength and resilience to our seders this year.

Here’s the Zoom link for the Congregational Seder - (Thursday, April 9th, 6pm - the second night). More info about the seder is on our streaming page.

Here’s the basic rule of the seder - you are supposed to set a table that makes people ask questions so you can answer with the story of the redemption from Egypt.

That’s it.  All the rest is custom that has built up around what will do that the best.  If you don’t believe me, look at the note below* which has the original text from the Mishnah about the first rabbinic seders, after the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE.

Having said that, here are some resources to help you create a moment that is meaningful to you and those you are able to gather with - physically or remotely.  [Remember, part of the power of the seder is the knowledge that Jews all over the world are doing something very similar, as the sunset moves across the planet]

The Reform Movement has created some great posts that have collated a lot of different resources - and I would start there.

The World Union for Progressive Judaism has a link that includes seders from other Reform congregations around the world.

You can find links to free flipbook haggadot or downloadable e-books from the CCAR (Reform Rabbinic movement).

There are many great resources for modern haggadot, additions to the seder meal, or seder plate, which can be found all over the web.  I would recommend staying away from sites that refer to Yeshua (usually Jews for Jesus). Sites such as aish hatorah and chabad are also well maintained, but be cautious that some of the messaging is not Reform friendly.

Here are some nice places to find all sorts of resources:

RitualWell Passover section (RitualWell is a phenomenal space for modern worship and ritual innovations, not just for Passover):

OySongs (an online Jewish music store, with mp3s and sheet music available for download):

If you find any link that is of help, e-mail me (rabbi@sholomnj.org) and I’ll add it to this list.

Thank you - and a chag sameach to all.

Rabbi Abraham

*[Here’s the original Rabbinic definition of the seder from 2,000 years ago, in the mishnah - https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Pesachim.10?lang=bi]:

The leader mixes the first cup: Bet Shammai says: first they bless over the day and then over the wine. Bet Hillel says: first they bless over the wine and then over the day.

They bring [it] in front of the leader, who dips lettuce before until they reach the appetizer that precedes the bread. They bring before him matzah, lettuce, and haroset (and two dishes) though the haroset is not mandatory. Rabbi Elazar son of Rabbi Zadok says: it is mandatory. [And in the Temple times, they bring the roasted meat of the pesach sacrifice before them.]

They mix a second cup, and here the children question the leader. If the child lacks the intelligence to ask, the leader instructs them: How different this night is from all other nights! On all other nights we eat hametz and matzah, tonight only matzah. On all other nights we eat other vegetables, tonight only bitter herbs. On all other nights, we eat meat roasted, boiled or cooked, tonight only roasted. On all other nights we dip once, tonight twice. And according to the intellect of the child, the leader instructs them. They begin with shame and conclude with praise; [using the verses from Deuteronomy, chapter 6, verses 20-25.] “A wandering Aramean was my ancestor”

Rabban Gamaliel used to say: whoever does not make mention of these three things on Pesach does not fulfill their duty. And these are they: the pesah (lamb shank), matzah, and bitter herbs (maror). The pesah (lamb shank) because the Omnipresent passed over the houses of our ancestors in Egypt. The matzah because our ancestors were redeemed from Egypt. The bitter herb because the Egyptians embittered the lives of our ancestors in Egypt. In every generation a person is obligated to regard themselves as though they personally had gone forth from Egypt, because it is said, “And you shall tell your child on that day, saying: ‘It is because of that which Adonai did for me when I came forth out of Egypt” (Exodus 13:8). Therefore it is our duty to thank, praise, laud, glorify, raise up, beautify, bless, extol, and adore the One who made all these miracles for our ancestors and ourselves; God brought us forth from slavery into freedom, from sorrow into joy, from mourning into festivity, from darkness into great light, and from servitude into redemption. Let us say before God, Hallelujah!