Synagogue invites community to Interfaith Model Passover Seder

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People who aren’t Jewish and who would like to learn more about the tradition of Passover are invited to sign up for the annual Interfaith Model Passover Seder at Congregation Shaarey Zedek.

The seder, which is sponsored by the synagogue and B’nai Brith, will take place March 26 at 6:30 p.m.

“The format is like how the meal would traditionally be done in a Jewish home,” said Rabbi Anibal Mass, who will lead the seder with Cantor Leslie Emery.

Passover commemorates the liberation of the ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

“There will be a lot of explanation about the symbolism,” Mass said.

The seder is the central ritual of Passover, which runs from April 12-20 this year. It is a meal that follows the story of the escape from Egypt with food and wine symbolic of the journey to freedom, including matzo, or unleavened bread.

“As Jews, we are always grateful when non-Jewish people are interested in learning about us,” Mass said, adding the seder is a chance to “come together with others to celebrate the diversity of the community.”

The seder will also be a time to note the values shared by most religions — things such as freedom, liberation, faith and family and the importance of justice and compassion for the oppressed, he said.

Noting that the Hebrew word for “Egypt” means a narrow or constricted place, Mass said the seder is also about freedom from feeling stuck or constrained in life, and how people can move forward into spaciousness.

“People can be enslaved in so many ways,” he said. “Passover is a time to reflect on the many kinds of freedom we seek — physical, emotional and spiritual.”

Since this is the first time the interfaith seder is being held in the newly renovated synagogue, that also represents a kind of freedom, Mass said.

“Before, we were constrained by our space to limit the numbers. Now we have the freedom to invite more people to attend,” he said.

For Adrianna Glikman, the B’nai Brith co-ordinator for Winnipeg, the seder is doubly important, since it will mark the 150th anniversary of B’nai Brith Canada.

“It’s been a long way from when we started in 1875 in Canada and 1909 when we began in Manitoba,” she said.

The Winnipeg interfaith seder has taken place every year for 29 years, she said, noting it was interrupted by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

“It’s been a sold-out event for the last few years, so it’s important that people reserve their tickets in advance,” Glikman said.

Cost for the interfaith Passover seder is $30 for adults, $25 for students and $18 for children. To register, call 204-487-9623 or go to wfp.to/interfaith by March 19.

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