Community Corner
Let All Who Are Hungry Come and Eat
The Passover Haggadah calls on Jews to welcome the stranger to the seder table. Patch has found some holiday observances that are open to the public.
The Jewish Passover holiday begins around the world tonight at sundown. The week of observance commemorates the story from the Bible’s Book of Exodus that describes the flight of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land.
Celebrants gather with family and friends, at home, in synagogue, in restaurants and catering halls for a ritual retelling of the story of the passage from “tight places” to liberation and the journey from slavery to freedom, while discussing how that odyssey has meaning in their lives today.
Rabbi Arthur I. Waskow, in his book Seasons of Our Joy (Copyright © 1980 by Arthur Waskow, published by Beacon Press), described the three major themes interwoven in Passover as “the birth of a people into political freedom; the rebirth of the earth into springtime life; and spiritual rebirth of the individual.”
Find out what's happening in Westwood-Century Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The first two nights of the eight day festival are observed with a Seder, a prescribed order of reading from the Haggadah, drinking ceremonial wine and eating symbolic foods, all accompanied by a sumptuous dinner of “kosher for Passover” items. The most well known of these is matzo, the unleavened bread that represents the haste with which the Hebrews fled from Egypt.
After opening blessings, the Seder leader precedes the telling of the story with the exhortation, “Whoever is hungry – let him come and eat! Whoever is needy – let him come and celebrate Passover!” Here is a sampling of Passover Seders in Westwood-Century City that are open to the public.
Find out what's happening in Westwood-Century Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Chabad House at UCLA
612 1/2 Midvale Avenue
310-208-1613
Tuesday, April 19, 7:45-11:30 pm
provides a home away from home Seder for students. According to their literature, “Our Seders are student-friendly, fun, warm, interactive & meaningful, conducted in English and NOT prayer-intensive so everyone feels at home! The traditional texts are integrated with wisdom and spiked with Jewish humor, while the festive meal is a pure delight.”
Seders are free of charge though donations are welcome.
Chabad will also be hosting a Passover Shabbat service on Friday, April 22 at 7:30pm.
574 Hilgard Avenue
310-208-3081
, the Jewish campus organization, is offering a variety of services for students, faculty and their families. A traditional Seder will be held Tuesday, April 19, led by Rabbi Aryeh and Sharona Kaplan. The three-hour interactive Seder will begin at 8:30 p.m., with the meal served around 10:00 p.m. Students and their parents from all backgrounds are welcome.
Dinner is $36 for students, $50 for faculty/staff/non-students.
Hillel will also make available kosher for Passover lunches and dinners all week long.
JConnect and the Happy Minyan join together to celebrate the Festival of Freedom on Tuesday, April 19, 8:30 p.m. “Rabbi Yonah [Bookstein]…shares his enthusiasm for the Holiday, and includes plenty of singing, stories, and interactive participation. The food is also going to be delicious and includes wine and matzah of course!” The event is scheduled to go from 8:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. at Beth Jacob, 9030 Olympic (at Doheny) – downstairs Room 5.
Ticket prices vary from $49 with discount code, use “jconnect” (all one word) to $69 and $90. Sponsors are welcome at the $136 level.
If you still can't afford the Seder, please contact them directly at: 310-571-8863 or email: HappyMinyan at gmail.com RSVP and pay online at: www.HappyMinyan.org or at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1528831777
Jconnect LA is a young professionals, grassroots organization founded in 2005 that inspires, unifies, and connects the Jewish people through fun, and innovative programing.
The Happy Minyan is a traditional Jewish Minyan that follows the Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach style of welcoming every Jew with the warmth and beauty of Torah conveyed through powerful singing and dancing.
10400 Wilshire Blvd.
(310) 474-1518
The synagogue’s ATID LA, young Jewish professionals group will also hold a Seder on the second night of Passover, Tuesday, April 19 at 6:30. The group’s website shows that the event is sold out, but you never know.
Questions will be asked and answered at our interactive and musical Seder led by Rabbi Nicole Guzik with Justin Stein. Ages 21-39, singles and couples.
Happy Passover.
