Advertisement

Passover Seder Reaches Out to Latinos

Share
TIMES STAFF WRITER

Some went out of curiosity. Others, to make new friends. But all went for a better understanding of another religion.

About 400 people--mostly Latinos--gathered at the Diocese of Orange’s Marywood Center on Thursday night for a celebration of a traditional Passover Seder. The ritual meal was the culmination of four months of preparation organized by the Anti-Defamation League in Orange County and designed to forge a better relationship between Latinos and Jews in Southern California.

“I wanted the Latino and Jewish communities to understand the deep religious roots we both share,” said Msgr. Jaime Soto, vicar for the Latino community of the Diocese of Orange. “I also think that both histories have had much tragedy and poured many tears, and both share a hope for the future.”

Advertisement

Passover, which begins this year on March 31, dates back more than 3,000 years, and refers to the Angel of Death “passing over” Jewish homes while inflicting a painful plague on Egypt for enslaving Jews.

Thursday’s Seder began with four Jewish leaders who gathered around a table on a stage at the front of the room. As they shared a microphone to describe the communal dinner that marks the celebration, they likened it to a musical.

They described the Haggadah, the prayer book, as the play’s libretto. The props were the symbolic foods eaten during the meal. The songs and prayers provided the music.

Throughout the evening, Rabbi Shelton Donnell of Temple Beth Sholom in Santa Ana chanted blessings, instructing participants to drink grape juice symbolizing the sweetness of freedom. He led them in eating parsley dipped in salt water, signifying spring overcoming the tears of slavery.

Across the room, yarmulkes mixed among baseball caps as Jews sitting with Latinos elaborated on the traditions surrounding the meal.

Together, they broke matzo, the unleavened bread that represents the Jews’ speedy flight from Egypt. And they winced after eating horseradish--a symbol of the harshness of slavery. They boisterously sang folk songs and read the story of the Exodus.

Advertisement

“We came because we’re trying to get some background, learn some different customs,” said Marbella Hernandez, 25, of Westminster.

“It’s like Thanksgiving,” she said of her first Seder. “We’re coming together, putting aside different beliefs, different likes and dislikes.”

Rosa Castro, sitting with a Jewish family, was surprised to learn that, among other things, the Haggadah--the book of prayers--opens from the back. That’s because the Hebrew language is printed from right to left.

“It looks like it’s in reverse to me,” she said. As she looked around, she proudly reflected upon what she saw: “It’s pretty neat, this great turnout.”

Castro was one of 500 people mailed an invitation to Thursday night’s celebration. The crowd drew from 35 parishes throughout the county.

Throughout the evening, the crowd joined in clapping, some beating on the table, some chanting songs.

Advertisement

It was a joy to see, said Joyce Greenspan, regional director of the Orange County branch of the Anti-Defamation League.

Advertisement