Make Room for Matzah

Sunday, March 21, 10:00  – 11:00 AM

Cost: $10/kit (recommend one kit per child, family max cost is $20), includes the program

$5 per family, just for the program (no kit)

Join us for virtual Passover workshop with PJ Library author and illustrator Alan Silberberg! He will premiere his hilarious new book, Meet the Matzah, and teach a doodling class to explore the foods and symbolism of Passover. Order a kit to have more fun Passover projects at home. Most appreciated by ages 4-7, though all are welcome.

Kit pick-up information:

DC locations – EDCJCC, Milton and Capitol Hill (address shared after registration) on Thursday, March 18, 12:15 ? 12:45 PM

VA location – Pozez JCC on Thursday, March 18, 12:15 ? 12:45 PM

MD location – Bender JCC on Thursday, March 18, 12:15 ? 12:45 PM

If you cannot make this time, please email Lindsay Kagin at lindsayk@edcjcc.org for another arrangement.

Kits need to be purchase by March 14th.

Co-sponsored by PJ Library Greater Washington, Love and Religion – An Interfaith Workshop for Jews and their Partners, Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation’s Capital, Capital Jewish Museum, Bender JCC, Pozez JCC’s Growing Jewish Families, and Jews United for Justice.

We’re still not ready to gather in person for Seder, but we’re learning how to adapt and get creative this year, and we’re excited to welcome you back to the Zoom room! Our community seder will be the same open and welcoming pluralistic celebration of freedom you’ve come to expect from the EDCJCC – but this year it’s virtual.

Throughout the seder, there will be opportunities for sharing in small groups, building community, and reflecting together or individually. We will break out to small “tables” to allow for socializing and discussion. When you register, you will be able to request to be at an affiliate group table or register as your own family table.

As always, we welcome interfaith, LGBTQ, and other traditionally marginalized voices to our virtual seder table. This year’s seder will be led by Amanda Herring, Manager of Jewish Life and Learning at the EDCJCC; Ari Jacobson, song leader; and members of the GLOE Committee.

Optional add-ons

This year, we are excited to offer a Passover bag to accompany your seder! The bag includes grape juice, seder plate (does not include seder plate items), matzah, a center piece, and a yummy Passover snack. Bag pick-up will be at the EDCJCC on Friday, March 26, between 12:15 – 1:00 PM.

If you would like to order a Kosher for Passover meal, you can do so through Char Bar by clicking here. Orders are due by Sunday, March 21, at 5:00 PM, and can be picked up from Char Bar or the EDCJCC between on Friday, March 26, between 12:00 -2:00 PM. You can also choose to have your meal delivered on the evening of Thursday, March 25, or during the day on Friday, March 26.

About the Seder:

We will go through the steps of the Seder, skipping over the meal, and then break into our tables at 8:00 PM where you’ll have the chance to eat over video or go offline to eat with your household. We will provide resources for completing the prayer after the meal and the search for the Afikomen on your own after the meal.

Seder Leader:

Amanda Herring, MA
Manager of Jewish Life and Learning
Amanda joined the EDCJCC in January 2020. She has been educating through immersive experiences and food-related programming for the past ten years in Virginia, DC, and New York. She completed her master’s in Experiential Education and Jewish Cultural Arts at the George Washington University and her undergraduate studies in Political Science, Jewish Studies, and International Studies at Virginia Tech. Amanda has worked at Hillel, Birthright, OneTable, and most recently started a publishing company designing educational tools for Jewish educators. She is the co-creator of The Jewish Planner. Amanda is thrilled to bring her passion for Jewish education, sustainability, and embodied experiences to the EDCJCC.

Seder FAQ

Joining by Zoom:
Try to log in about 5 minutes before the seder starts to ensure you’re all set up. Make sure you have adequate lighting on your face, and not creating shadows behind you. You will be on mute when you enter; unless you’ve been asked to lead a portion of the seder, we ask you to remain on mute as long as we are in a full group. When you go to your breakout rooms, you’ll be umuted and can share at your virtual “table”.

Do I have to be Jewish to attend? (Observant? Old? Young? Ashkenazi? Sephardic? etc.)
Nope. We welcome everyone who would like to join our community-wide Seder and celebrate Passover’s lessons of freedom! In fact, every year, we have a beautiful mix of people. Some are Jewish, some are not. All are welcome, and (if they choose) can easily participate.

What if I don’t read Hebrew?
Not a problem. Most of the Seder is in English, and readings in Hebrew also appear in English transliteration.

Is there a dress code? What should I wear?
There is no official dress code. Most people dress as they would for a family Seder or holiday – dressed nicely, a little dressed up, but not overly formally. (For many people that could mean a button-down or sweater, a skirt/dress, a jacket, slacks, etc.) Please wear what feels appropriate to you to celebrate the holiday.

Is it appropriate to have kids in the room?
Yes! This is not specifically a “kids” Seder, but our atmosphere is fun and festive! We welcome all who would like to participate.

Was your question not answered? Email Amanda so we can help!