Ma Nishtana? Why Is This Passover Different from All Others?
Resources to Bring to Your Seder This Year Acknowledging the Way the World Has Changed Since October 7th
Traditionally, Passover is a time for family and friends to gather together to retell the story of our people’s liberation and redemption. This year, Passover’s themes will be sitting differently with each of us. Below you can find resources to bring to your Passover table to express concerns, fears, and hopes as we continue to pray for peace in our broken world.
We encourage everyone to gather together this year with curious minds, open hearts, and ears attuned to all the varied voices around our tables. Chag Pesach Sameach.
Supplemental prayers, poems, songs, and meditations from the Central Conference of American Rabbis
Seven easy-to-implement ideas for families with children from Kveller
Human-rights focused, thought-provoking questions and texts from Truah
A Haggadah for This Time from the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism
Ways to include the Israel-Gaza war from New Israel Fund Australia
More Passover Resources
Seder Plate Ideas
- Learn the six parts of the classic Seder plate (ReformJudaism.org)
- Build a vegan Seder plate (The Kitchn)
- 7 Modern Additions to the Seder Plate (ReformJudaism.org)
- Add a banana to your Seder plate for refugees (PDF)
- Add a tomato to your Seder plate for farmworkers (PDF)
Haggadot
Below you’ll find links to different Haggadot! Find one that fits with your family’s approach to Passover and the Seder.
- NEW to this list: An Asian Jewish Haggadah from the LUNAR Collective (please note that a $5 donation is required to access the download)
- NEW to this list: 10-Minute Dayenu Seder (Jewish Grandparents Network)
- Create your own Haggadah – by choosing a template and readings to fit your family
- 30-Minute Seder (30MinuteSeder.com)
- Coloring Book Haggadah (Haggadot.com)
- Liberal Haggadah (Haggadot.com)
- In Every Generation: A PJ Library Family Haggadah (PJ Library)
- A Family Haggadah (Amazon)
- A Different Night, The Family Participation Haggadah (Amazon)
- The Open Door: A Passover Haggadah (Amazon)
- Mishkan HaSeder (CCAR Press)
- HIAS Haggadah (HIAS) with readings and stories which connect the foundational liberation story of the Jewish people with the reality of the refugee experience in the 21st century.
- Mental Health Seder Companion: Experience the freedom of the mind, body and soul with the Haggadah from Blue Dove Foundation
Thematic Supplements
- NEW to this list: 10 Modern Plagues (JFS of Delaware)
- A Special Reading for the Jews of Ukraine (JDC)
- Crying Out Against Mass Incarceration (The Jewish Working Group to End the New Jim Crow)
- Ha-Lachma Anya: The Bread of Affliction (Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism)
- Social Justice Four Cups of Wine for Your Seder (URJ)
- Integrity First for America Supplement
- The Five Women of Exodus (National Council of Jewish Women)
- Passover Resources (HIAS)
- Short Thoughts for Passover (Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z”l)
For Children & Parents
- Video Passover Story from PJ Library
- A Visual Guide and Song for the Ten Plagues (Matan)
- Passover Bingo Cards (Matan)
- Passover Seder Tracker (Matan)
- Here are tons of other resources, like recipe cards, tips on teaching kids the four questions, and Passover school lunch ideas from PJ Library.
Additional Resources
- New in 2023, the Union for Reform Judaism created a great Roundup of Digital Resources, including videos, seder activities, social justice readings, and more.
- ReformJudaism.com’s Passover pages answers to questions like “Is Passover seven or eight days?”, an interactive seder plate, what to expect at a seder, Passover crafts and more (URJ).
- What do Pesach and Hamilton have in common? (video)
Shaaring Our Story: A Community 2nd Night Seder
Tuesday, April 23 at 5:30 p.m.
What makes Shaare Emeth’s Community 2nd Night Seder different from all of the other community 2nd night seders?
It starts with the people – at the front of the room and around the tables. Our seder will be led by Rabbi Andrea Goldstein, Cantor Seth Warner, and Lucy Greenbaum, and is truly intergenerational. Sit with your family or dearest friends or we’ll thoughtfully arrange your table for you to meet someone new.
- It’s a feast for your senses – our gourmet Passover meal is expertly crafted by Papa Mark Catering, delighting your taste buds and smelling divine (vegetarian options available). You’ll hear curated readings from traditional and modern haggadot, the beautiful singing voices of Lucy Greenbaum, Cantor Warner, and members of Shir Emeth Youth Choir!
- It’s just right for kids but geared toward everyone – our seder won’t be too long, but it’s also not too short. We plan to serve the meal around 6:30 and Debbie Bram will lead activities for the children throughout the seder to keep them engaged. All children in attendance can take part in the Afikomen Challenge and will leave with Passover goodies (frogs on their heads, perhaps).
- We’re weaving in Israel and Tzedek (justice) components.
Pricing:
- $45/adult members • $50/adult non-members (ages 10+)
- $25/child members • $30/child non-members (ages 3-10)
- No charge for children under age 3
- Financial assistance for members is available; email Craig Neuman, Executive Director
To inquire about attending, please contact Debbie Bram.
About Passover
April 22-30, 2024
Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) is a major Jewish spring festival celebrating freedom and family as we remember the Exodus from Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. The main observances of this holiday center around a special home service called the seder, which includes a festive meal, the prohibition on eating chametz, and the eating of matzah. Click here to learn more.