PESACH , known in English as Passover, is a major Jewish festival, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt over 3,000 years ago. The ritual observance of this holiday centers around a special home service and meal called the seder (meaning "order"); refraining from eating chametz (leaven); and the eating of matzah (an unleavened bread). The Pesach seder is the only meal in the Jewish calendar year for which an order is prescribed -- hence, its name.
During the seder we read from a book called the hagadah, meaning "telling," which contains prayers, rituals, readings and songs. The goal of the seder is to retell, celebrate and express gratitude for, our emergence from slavery into freedom. Click here to download an East End Temple Hagadah.
At the end of the Pesach week, there will be a morning Yizkor service.
Virtual seder plate, from the Union for Reform Judaism
More URJ resources
More EET Pesach information
LILITH'S SEDER
Freedom and liberation carry particular significance to women who have, over the years, brought their perspective to every aspect of Jewish life and practice. Sisterhood’s annual all-women Lilith’s Seder celebrates the Passover story from a feminist perspective, both in the Hebrew language of the Haggadah and in the content of the readings. We learn about Miriam and other great women in our past, who played important roles in the Passover story and our liberation, and who are helping us to establish our stake in the future. Led by Shira Ginsburg, our cantor, it’s potluck with great food, great singing, and great Haggadah reading.
SHAVUOT AND CONFIRMATION
As we celebrate the giving of Torah at Mount Sinai, we also honor the Confirmation Class of our Religious School as they complete their formal studies with our school and integrate into the larger Jewish community.
Following this service, Rabbi Adelson will lead us in Tikkun Leil Shavuot, when we study together and recall standing at Sinai. Dairy dishes are served on this holiday to symbolize the sweetness of Torah, as well as the "land of milk and honey". We will be serving our traditional cheese blintzes.
Shavuot includes the fourth and last Yizkor service of our temple year.