“Undoubtedly Passover is a communal experience, a time when Jewish families sit crowded at our dining room tables to relive the experience of our ancestors’ flight from slavery to freedom,” says Rabbi Judy Chessin of Temple Beth Or in Washington Twp.
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“Some Jewish holidays can be observed alone, but Passover is a shared experience, the most widely observed Jewish holiday ritual in the U.S. It is the festival with more customs, recipes, sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and family traditions than any other.But this year, although families and communities won’t be able to travel or to convene during the holiday, they are finding creative ways to adapt.
“One of main goals of Jewish institutions at the moment is to help people feel that even if they’re physically apart, they are not alone,” Chessin says. “They are apart, but still a part of the broader community and people. Rather than social distancing, we are aiming for social connections through technology.”
Temple Beth Or will be streaming a second Seder on Thursday evening, April 9. Seder-to-go dinners can be picked up in the parking lot of the synagogue. At the appointed time, thanks to Zoom and Facebook Live, anyone can join in the fun. “No one should be alone for Seder,” Chessin says. “You will have a ready-made community.”
Chessin believes this may turn out to be the year that Jewish people can revive the ancient custom of “Pesach Sheini”— literally “Second Passover.” In Biblical times, one month after Passover those who were unable to make the Passover offering had a second chance. Says Chessin: “We can only hope that by May (one month after Passover), we may be able to sit together and enjoy a communal Seder with our family and friends.”
How families are being creative
Marc and Julie Katz of Butler Twp. will be adding an 11th plague to the 10 written in the Book of Exodus and traditionally enumerated during the Seder meal. They’ll add COVID-19.
“We’ve always had large Seders, at times more than 30 people, hosting family and friends and moving furniture to make room for more tables,” Marc says. Over the years the family has come up with creative ways to retell the story — ranging from plague masks to jumping frogs.
“As our kids graduated from college, moved around the country, got married and started families of their own, we learned how to share and readjust,” Marc says. “We’ve taken our toys and books to Washington, D.C., where we’ve built matzo houses with grandchildren. We’ve also learned that we can’t always be together.”
After much discussion with family members, the Katzes have agreed to have their first Social Distancing FaceTime Seder. “It’s not the same, but it’s better than being alone,” Marc says. ” With empty chairs around our table, we’ll still be able to look to Alex, our youngest, to ask the ever-important four questions.”
Many families are busily learning how to Zoom in preparation for their Seders. “Our family is all over the world, from London to Hawaii,” says Judy Woll of Clayton. ” Typically about 30 of us gather in Washington, D.C., for two nights of Seder.
This year the family decided to try a Zoom Seder but many members of the family had never used Zoom. “We did the tutorial online and we’re doing a few test phone calls,” she says. “We’re handling the different time zones by starting our Seder at 5 p.m. Eastern time. It will be 10 p.m. in London and 11 a.m. in Hawaii.”
The only problem so far? “We’re a singing family, and it’s hard to sing together on Zoom because there’s a built-in delay.”
Ordering out
Thankfully, there are professionals in the community preparing Seder plates and Passover meals for those who would like to order them. Adam Baumgarten, owner of Bernstein’s Fine Catering, typically cooks communal Passover meals for six synagogues in Dayton, Cincinnati and Springfield. Because of the virus, those orders have all been canceled.
But he and his staff are preparing a Seder-in-a-box for 100 members of Temple Beth Or ; another synagogue purchased ingredients from him and will prepare and distribute individual Seder meals to their congregants. He’s also making a la carte Passover items that can be picked up. “We prepare the traditional items most people have at their Seders,” he says. “Those include matzo ball soup, chopped liver, gefilte fish, brisket, roast chicken, matzo stuffing, matzo apple kugel, charoset, and specialty Passover desserts like honey cake, apple matzo cakes, rainbow cookies. We offer delivery but most clients pick up. “
Another problem for Baumgarten is that his suppliers have reduced their delivery days, delivering only two or three times a week instead of six. “Being that Passover foods are produced only once a year, we have to predict and order what we will need in January,” he says. “Based on our cancellations, we had to reduce our order by 80 percent at the last minute so our kosher-for-Passover supplies will be limited this year.”
Baumgarten estimates his company, which also prepares regular non-Passover meals for pick-up or delivery, has lost 95 percent of its business through the end of April.
The focus of the Seder service is a plate on which symbolic foods are displayed and discussed. The bitter herbs, for example, are a reminder of the bitterness of slavery. Parsley dipped in salt water is a reference to the tears shed.
Chabad of Dayton is reaching out to those who may be alone or ill, delivering Seder plate kits to anyone who might like to have one. “Everyone should experience these timeless messages and inspiration of hope and freedom,” says Rabbi Elchonon Chaikin. The kit includes a Haggadah, the text used during the Seder meal.
Kate Elder is the coordinator for PJ Library, an engagement and literacy program for families supported by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton. This Passover, she’ll engage them for hosting a virtual “Lotza Matza” program via Zoom. “Families will interact and share their favorite matzoh recipes or crafts,” she explains.
Elder, who lives in Centerville, will participate in a Virtual Seder for her own family on FaceTime. “My parents and siblings are local and in Columbus, but because of social distancing we will drop a Haggadah off on their porch or scan and email a few pages so they can read along with us,” she says.
The best-laid plans
Another Passover challenge this year: What to do when the person who always cooks and brings the same yummy dish each year won’t be at your Seder?
Rachel Gilbert of Washington Twp. was faced with that dilemma when she realized her mother, who has been away in Arizona, wouldn’t be able to attend her Seder.
“My mom’s matzo ball soup is the best and she always makes it for our holiday meals,” Gilbert says. “My plan had been to make the soup with my mom this year, so that I could learn from her. Now that will have to wait.”
Instead Gilbert decided to try the packaged soup mixes, but even that proved frustrating when she confused the various mixes and ended up with a mess on her hands. “When I dropped the matzo balls into the boiling water, they completely disintegrated,” she says.
The good news? Her family still ate the soup, which turned out to be tasty. They’ve just renamed her version “matzo mush soup.”
Passover connections
To participate in Temple Beth Or’s Streaming Second Seder on April 8, see the web site: www. templebethor.com or call (937) 435-3400.
To order Passover meals or a la carte items from Adam Baumgarten, call (937) 898-2761 for more information or acb@bernsteinscatering.com. The company is located at 3100 Woodman Drive in Kettering. A variety of non-Passsover meals are also available.
Chabad of Dayton can deliver Seder plate kits to your home. There’s a $15 charge, but those on limited income are provided the free kits. Contact www.chabaddayton.com or call (937)643-0770
Kate Elder, PJ Library Coordinator, will host a Virtual “Lotza Matzah” program on Zoom at 3 p.m. Tuesday April 7. Families will interact and show their favorite matzah recipes or craft. Information on how to join in can be found online at https://jewishdayton.org/pj-library-is-going-virtual/
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