Jewish community celebrates freedom with Passover – El Paso Times

Mara Corts Gonzlez , El Paso Times Published 3:13 p.m. MT April 7, 2017 | Updated 3 hours ago

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Rabbi Levi Greenberg and his family, from left, Musia; his wife, Shaina; Sara; and Menachem demonstrate a Passover Seder last year in their home. The Seder itself is not allowed to be photographed.(Photo: MARK LAMBIE/EL PASO TIMES FILE)Buy Photo

Passover, considered the festival of freedom, will be celebrated by the Jewish community in El Paso starting Monday evening.

Around El Paso, families will sit together for that first Seder either at home or in community with their congregations. Some will have a Seder on Tuesday as well.

The holiday is an eight-day festival that commemorates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt after being enslaved for 400 years. Moses, the great rabbi of the Jewish people, led them out.

Rabbi Levi Greenberg, of Chabad Lubavitch synagogue, said the word "Passover" comes from what happened when God sent 10 plagues upon Egypt because the pharaohs would not release the Jewish people. The last plague killed the Egyptian firstborn but passed over the Jewish homes.

During the Seder, the faithful eat specific foods with special meaning. The matzah is the traditional unleavened bread that commemorates the bread the Jews prepared in their haste to leave Egypt.

Greenberg said "Seder" means "order" and that it is ironic that the holiday of freedomis commemorated with a dinner that is structured and rigid.

"The truth is that this expresses the true meaning of freedom. Freedom is only meaningful when coupled with responsibility and structure. Moses led the Jews out of Egypt to MountSinai, where they received the Torah and its 613 commandments. They were given a mission and empowered to fulfill it," he said.

"The meaning of Passover is essentially the same for Jews all over the world. We remember our past redemption and look forward to the ultimate redemption, when all of humanity will live in peace and tranquility," he added.

Rabbi Royi Shaffin, who has been at Congregation B'Nai Zion for nine months, is excited about celebrating his first Passover in the desert.

"The weather is verysimilar to the weather in the Middle East and the weather wherethe story of the exodus of Egypt takes place. El Paso and Jerusalem are on the same latitude lines, so it makes it very interesting," he said.

Shaffin said the idea of celebrating freedom is something that everyone can relate to.

"It is something that is definitelyon a lot of people's minds. We understand that freedom has to be safeguarded in our world constantly and we have to make sure there is freedom from the outside oppressors, as well as safeguardwithin the society. That is how and why God created humans:to be free. Slavery is an unnatural state of being and the Passover holiday reminds of the importance of our freedom and human dignity."

Shaffin added that he would like to wish everyone a happy holiday, whether they are celebrating Passover or Easter.

"As we enter spring and we celebrate and enjoy the weather, we should be grateful for life and freedom and have a positive and tolerant attitude and look forward to good things in the future."

Mara Corts Gonzlez may be reached at546-6150;mcortes@elpasotimes.com;@EPTMaria on Twitter.

Make plans

Congregation B'Nai Zion will have a Passover community Seder at 6 p.m. Tuesdayat805 Cherry Hill Lane. Cost: $25 for adults, $15 for children 12 and younger, free for children under 5. RSVP by Monday. Information:833-2222.

Chabad Lubavitch will havea Community Seder at 7:30 p.m. Monday at6615 Westwind Drive. Information: 584-8218.

Temple Mount Sinaiwill have a Community Seder at 6 p.m. Tuesdayat 4408 N. Stanton St. Cost: $25for adults, $15for youths ages 6-12, children younger than 5 free. Active military are guests. RSVP to 532-5959.

Read or Share this story: http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/religion/2017/04/07/jewish-community-celebrates-freedom-passover/100123862/

Here is the original post:

Jewish community celebrates freedom with Passover - El Paso Times