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15th Annual National Rainbow Seder
Sunday, April 2, 2023
Join GLOE and Rabbi Jenna Stein Turow of the Den Collective for this annual event to celebrate Passover through an LGBTQ lens.
Now in its fifteenth year, the National Rainbow Seder is one of the nation’s largest and longest-running Passover seders for the queer Jewish community and its allies, is presented by GLOE – GLBTQ Outreach & Engagement at the Edlavitch DCJCC and our 2023 partners, Human Rights Campaign Foundation, Bet Mishpachah Congregation, Washington Hebrew Congregation, Adas Israel Congregation, Den Collective, Nice Jewish Boys, Nice Jewish Girls, Capital Qvellers, GatherDC, Young Leadership of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and more announced soon.
Hosted inside at the Edlavitch DCJCC, this year’s program will focus on the theme of Parting the Chaos of the World: A Moment of Peace and will feature a full Passover seder complete with a specially-commissioned Haggadah (the Jewish text containing the Passover story) retelling the traditional tale of Jewish triumphs of resistance alongside the hard-fought progress made by the LGBTQ equality movement over the past decade since the National Rainbow Seder’s inception.
We’ll enjoy a special Passover meal as we read our own Haggadah and perform its festive rituals with the Jewish LGBTQ community and our friends.
6:00 – 8:30 PM | Seder, with Dinner Program
Guest speaker information announced soon!
The program is for all ages.
*We will not be checking vaccination cards like last year but we encourage attendees to take a rapid COVID test before attending our program and we welcome you to wear a mask if you wish.
If the cost of this program is prohibitive, please email Stacy at stacym@edcjcc.org
Registration closes Friday, March 24 at 4:00 PM
Join us for our wonderful Second Night Seder – the open, welcoming, pluralistic celebration of freedom you’ve come to expect from the EDCJCC.
Registration deadline, March 24th 8:00 AM
At the Seder, we find joy in intergenerational community, storytelling, and song. Join us to meet new friends, partake in joyous singing accompanied by a guitar, and have meaningful discussions with your friends, family, and neighbors.
Our Seder will feature a delicious kosher-for-Passover meal. We’re serving DC rooftop-grown parsley, and 100% compostable plate ware with composting services generously provided by our sponsor CompostCab. Amanda Herring, Director of Jewish Life and Living, will guide you through the Seder accompanied by Ari Jacobson’s beautiful singing and guitar.
Whether this is your first Seder or your 100th, there’s a place at our Passover table for you!
Seder Menu for 2023 (subject to change)
- Gefilte Fish with horseradish
- Butternut Squash soup
- Potato Kugel
- Stuffed Peppers with farfel and veggies
- Walnut crusted rainbow trout
- Israeli Salad
- Seder Plate classics
- Desert assortment
Ticket Prices:
Adult Ticket: $72.00
EntryPointDC/Young Adult: $54.00
Child (under 12): $36.00
Need assistance? We’re looking for volunteers to help set up and check folks in. We have limited volunteer pricing available. Please reach out to aherring@edcjcc.org.
Seder Leaders:
Amanda Herring is the Director of Jewish Life and Learning at the Edlavitch DCJCC. In 2018, Amanda received her Master’s in Experiential Education and Jewish Cultural Arts at GW, and completed the JOFEE Fellowship in Jewish, Outdoor, Food, Farming and Environmental Education. It was there that she combined her passions for Shabbat and sustainable food which together can nourish and heal communities and ecosystems. Amanda is also the CEO of Gold Herring, co-creater of the Jewish Planner and the Omer Self-Care Workbook, a dance instructor and pickler. Amanda lives in Northeast DC with her partner, Greg and their kids: Abraham, Simkha, and Mensch (the dog).
Song leader Ari Jacobson has been involved in music, Judaism, education, and various overlaps of the three for as long as he can remember. While studying music and theatre at UMass Amherst, he honed his song leading skills at URJ’s Eisner Camp in Great Barrington, MA. Since moving to the DMV two years ago, Ari has been happily providing music for the EDCJCC’s programs for all ages, from baby classes with the parenting center to pre-school music to various community events like this one. Also an actor and a singer/songwriter, Ari can be seen as Mikey Thomas in The Kennedy Center’s Shear Madness, and his original music can be found on his website www.arijacobson.com.
Seder FAQ:
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, and some are not. All are welcome, and (if they choose) can easily participate in a variety of ways – singing, reading, discussing ideas, or just generally being among the community.
What if I don’t read Hebrew?
Not a problem. Most of the seder is in English, and most readings in Hebrew also appear with English transliteration.
What about dinner? Is it kosher?
There is a delicious catered Kosher-for-Passover dinner at the community-wide seder. This is a vegetarian meal – and of course we’ll have dessert! Please let us know about any allergies in your registration.
Accessibility?
We’re happy to provide ASL or other interpretation upon advance notice. The Edlavitch DCJCC building is wheelchair/mobility device accessible. If you need other accommodations to allow you to fully participate in the Seder (or simply have questions), please let us know in advance and we’ll be happy to help.
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. Most people do not wear jeans.) Please wear what feels appropriate to you to celebrate the holiday.
Is it appropriate to bring kids?
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!
About our sponsor:
Compost Cab is providing their composting services for this event along with discounts for new home composting customers who attend!
Join us for this year’s Passover celebration! We will have a chocolate and toffee matzah bar, Passover-themed origami, a service project, and the opportunity to create community with other Jews of Color and their families!
A light kosher-for-Passover dinner will also be served.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 11, from 6:30 – 8:30 PM
WHERE: The Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center
COVID-19 INFO: Currently, masks in public spaces at the EDCJCC are optional but we encourage and embrace everyone to do what feels best and most safe for themselves and their families. Proof of vaccination is no longer required to enter the building.
QUESTIONS? Contact Sonya Weisburd at sonyaw@edcjcc.org
RSVP: This event is free but we kindly request you RSVP for each member of your family to make sure we have enough food and supplies! Click on the red “Register” ticket icon to proceed to registration.
Please note this holiday celebration is specifically curated for community members who identify as Jews of Color and for their families. If you do not identify as being part of this community, we invite you to attend a different Passover event happening at the EDCJCC instead.
This event is brought to you in partnership with Khazbar, Mosaic Visions, Washington Hebrew Congregation’s JOC Affinity Group, and Adas Israel Congregation’s Jews of Color Affinity Group.
The Edlavitch DCJCC embraces inclusion in all its programs and activities. We welcome and encourage the participation of all people, regardless of their background, sexual orientation, abilities, or religion, including interfaith couples and families.