Winnipeggers who want to learn more about Judaism and its traditions are invited to an interfaith Passover seder.
The seder, which is being hosted by Congregation Shaarey Zedek and B’nai Brith in Manitoba, will take place at the Asper Jewish Community Centre campus on April 11.
“It will be pretty much like the same thing any Jewish family would do at home for Passover,” said Rabbi Anibal Mass, who will be leading the event.
During the seder, participants will be able to learn more about the Passover story, what the various elements of the meal signify and also about the Jewish tradition of asking questions during the celebration.
Those questions highlight why the Passover seder is different from meals on other nights, said Mass, who is a teaching rabbi at Shaarey Zedek.
At the same time, he said, Christians will be able to learn more about the roots of their own practice of communion or Eucharist, he said.
“It’s deeply connected to the Last Supper with Jesus in the New Testament,” Mass said, adding it will help Christians learn more about their “common ground” with Judaism.
For Mass, who has been involved with the interfaith seder since its beginning about 25 years ago, the event is an annual highlight.
“It gives me enormous joy to do it,” he said. “I think it appeals to the educator in me.”
In addition to helping people learn more about the Jewish tradition of Passover, the event is also intended to “build bridges and community” in the city, he said.
“It is a spiritual, not a political event,” he added.
For Adriana Glikman, national program co-ordinator for B’nai Brith Canada, the goal of the seder is to share “the message of peace and freedom for everyone” and to “reach out to people from other faith groups and strengthen relationships.”
This is especially important now during this time of tension over the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, she said.
“The interfaith seder will take place in a welcoming environment,” Glikman said, noting in the past it was held at Shaarey Zedek and included a tour of the synagogue. Due to renovations at the synagogue, it is being held this year at Asper Community Centre campus and will include a chance to view a Torah scroll.
Passover is one of Judaism’s most important holidays, commemorating the exodus of the Jewish people from slavery and their captivity in Egypt. The story of that exodus is told with rituals, food, wine and song.
The seder begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $36 for adults, $25 for students and $20 for children under 12. The deadline for registration for tickets is Thursday. To reserve a spot, call 204-487-9623, ext. 180, or go to http://wfp.to/ymY.
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John Longhurst
Faith reporter
John Longhurst has been writing for Winnipeg’s faith pages since 2003. He also writes for Religion News Service in the U.S., and blogs about the media, marketing and communications at Making the News.