Julie M. Cohen
For almost 30 years, Belmont’s Beth El Temple Center has been welcoming people into its Concord Avenue space to mark the Jewish holiday of Passover with a community Seder.
“The Passover Seder is a service, over a dinner meal, that tells the story of the ancient Israelites’ exodus from Egypt through a prescribed order of symbolic foods, stories, songs, and prayers,” according to the Union for Reform Judaism.
“Our motivation [to hold the community Seder], as with so much of what we do, is to strengthen and nourish a strong feeling of community by sharing meaningful and joyous celebrations,” said Rabbi Jonathan Kraus, who led the April 23 event on the second night of Passover.
“We … see ourselves as providing a service for folks who may not have any other Seder to attend (i.e., people for whom this second-night Seder is their only Seder),” said Kraus. “For that reason, we’ve always welcomed guests from outside our congregation, as well.”
This year, the holiday took on extra meaning for many in the congregation due to a sharp rise in antisemitism in the U.S. and around the world, the Israel hostage crisis, and the war in Gaza.
“There are a lot of empty plates at Seders in Israel,” said Kraus, who told the attendees that he reflected on the tragic situation in the Middle East with his family.
Being together to celebrate Passover during such a “difficult, painful, and sometimes frightening time” feels like an even more important gift than usual, Kraus said in an email.
“There is often great comfort, strength, and solace in being part of a loving and supportive community,” he wrote. “Not surprisingly, people in our diverse congregation have a variety of opinions and perspectives about this very complicated and fraught moment in both America and Israel-Gaza.”
Audrey Brenhouse, 17, president of the temple’s youth group, said her family had never attended the Beth El Seder before this year. She said she looked forward to the temple gathering because she was glad to be “able to express who I am.”
About 55 people attended, seated with friends, family and strangers. Kraus, who played guitar and sang during the Seder, invited people to the front of the large room and read from the Haggadah.
“The Hebrew word Haggadah means ‘telling,’ and it refers to the service or script for the Passover Seder table ritual. The Haggadah provides the order and script of the service with step-by-step instructions,” according to the Union for Reform Judaism.
Kraus called the youngest attendees to read the Four Questions as the service progressed.
“One of the main focal points of the traditional Passover Seder is the Maggid, the telling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt. This story begins with the youngest person at the Seder asking the Four Questions. These questions provide the impetus for telling why this night is different
from all other nights,” according to the Union for Reform Judaism.
Of course, the highlight was the tasty meal served afterward. Abby Fisher, who took over the dinner at the last minute because the original organizers were sick, said that in the past, the community Seder would attract almost 90 people, some of whom were from area churches.
“I like giving people the opportunity to celebrate together,” she said.
For more information on Beth El Temple Center, visit https://www.betheltemplecenter.org/
