PASSOVER SEDER SURVIVAL GUIDE PREP CLASS IN RIVER EDGE

Holiday Prep Class For Women of Other Religious Backgrounds Raising Jewish Children Who Would Like to Learn More About Passover

 Have you ever wondered how to host a Passover seder (ritual meal), even though you never grew up attending one? The Mothers Circle, a series of free programs for women of other religious backgrounds raising Jewish children within the context of intermarriage, is excited to introduce a special one-time class called Passover Seder Survival Guide. Co-sponsored by seven New Jersey organizations,including Wayne's Shomrei Torah, the Seder Survival Guide is a free, fun, and interactive session that will prepare parents who are new to Judaism for celebrating Passover in an enjoyable, meaning­ful way with their families. Hosted by Temple Avodat Shalom, 385 HOWLAND AVENUE, RIVER EDGE, NJ on Sunday, April 1 from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM, the class welcomes parents from throughout Northern New Jersey.  Refreshments and childcare will be provided.

Through hands-on activities and stimulating conversations, participants will explore the meaning behind each item on the seder plate; examine the seder’s written companion, the haggadah (the guide to the meal); have the opportunity to ask their own “Four Questions”; and learn the virtues of Pass­over food and matzah ball soup! Participants will also discover ways to answer their children’s questions and keep them engaged at the seder, and discuss some of the intricacies of participating in—or even hosting!—a Jewish holiday celebration when you yourself are not Jewish.

 Rabbi Kerry Olitzky, Executive Director of the Jewish Outreach Institute, the organization that operates The Mothers Circle nationally and created the Seder Survival Guide program, says, “The seder is the best example of education that is built into the framework of Jewish ritual. The Seder Survival Guide helps people who were not raised with the holiday of Passover to get the most out of such an educational and ritual experience that has transformed the Jewish people over time.”

Lisa Harris Glass, Director of the Synagogue Leadership Initiative of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, co-sponsor of the program, says, “Every Jewish child should have an opportunity to grow up in a house rich in Jewish tradition.  Most Jewish parents bring the traditions of their childhood to pass on to their children. Others, specifically non-Jewish parents of Jewish babies, do not have family Jewish traditions, memories of Jewish holidays and family holiday recipes to offer.  This can be a source of stress and a barrier to experiencing the joy of our rich Jewish traditions.  And this is the value of the Seder Survival Guide.”

The Seder Survival Guide Prep Class, made possible by a joint grant to the Jewish Outreach Institute and Temple Avodat Shalom from the Adler Family Innovation Fund, is co-sponsored by: Fair Lawn Jewish Center/Congregation B’nai Israel (www.fljc.com); Gesher Shalom – The Jewish Community Center of Fort Lee (www.geshershalom.org); Glen Rock Jewish Center (www.grjc.org); Lakeland Hills Jewish Center (www.lhjc.org); Shomrei Torah, THE WAYNE CONSERVATIVE CONGREGATION  (www.shomreitorahwcc.org); Sha’ar Communities (www.shaarcommunities.org); and Shalom Baby of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey (www.jfnnj.org/shalombaby).  

Temple Avodat Shalom is located at 385 Howland Ave. For directions, please visit www.tshalom.net, or call (201) 489-2463.

To RSVP or learn more about the program, contact Hannah Morris at 212-760-1440 or at holidayhelperNNJ@gmail.com.  You can also learn more about the class’s sponsoring organizations, The Mothers Circle, Temple Avodat Shalom, and the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey by visiting motherscircle.org, tshalom.net, and jfnnj.org, as well as the websites for the organizations listed above.

 For more information about the Jewish Outreach Institute, or the Seder Survival Guide, please contact Hannah Morris at HMorris@joi.org or (212) 760-1440.

The Jewish Outreach Institute (JOI)—is an independent, national, trans-denominational organization reaching out to unengaged and intermarried Jewish families, and helping the organized Jewish community better welcome them in. JOI conducts research, runs programs, and serves as a national training institution and network for outreach professionals, guiding and supporting innovative outreach in communities throughout North America.