Families, Synagogues Prepare to Celebrate Miracles of Passover

Families and synagogue members will gather next week to commemorate the liberation of the Jewish people from bondage in Egypt.

The Egyptians enslaved and eventually freed the Jewish people 3,300 years ago, in a historical event so remarkable that it has been passed down for scores of generations through Passover Seders.

Through rituals, participants recall how the Jews were held in bondage until God commanded Moses to go to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to release the Hebrews. When Pharaoh refused, 10 plagues were inflicted upon Egypt, including frogs, hail and finally the death of first-born children. Eventually, Pharaoh yielded and released the slaves.

“In celebration of this remarkable event, Jewish people gather every year to recount the miracles,” said Rabbi Shimon Paskow, spiritual leader of Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks.

At Jewish religious schools everywhere, children have been learning to make matzo and memorizing a Hebrew chant called the four questions, said Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller of Ventura’s Temple Beth Torah.

The youngest child at the Seder will ask, “Why do we eat only matzo tonight?” “Why do we all other nights eat sweet vegetables and only eat bitter herbs tonight?” “Why do we dip vegetables twice tonight?” and “Why do we eat reclining tonight?”

As the child--or sometimes all the children--ask the questions and the parents or adults at the Passover Seder respond, the story of freedom from bondage unfolds, Hochberg-Miller said.

Matzo, an unleavened bread, symbolizes the haste in which the Hebrews fled--they did not have time to let their bread rise, she explained.

The bitter herbs or maror, usually horseradish, are a reminder of the bitter life of slavery, and the dipping and reclining represent how free people, specifically the wealthy Romans in ancient days, eat, Hochberg-Miller explained.

During the Passover Seder, families are able to pass Jewish traditions down to their children in a memorable way.

“This is the most-observed holiday of them all, because it provides an opportunity for families to come together and share memories,” Paskow said.

For those who are single or not living near family, community Seders are held at many synagogues, Paskow said.

One of the activities that children remember the most is afikomen, a Greek word for dessert. Someone will break a piece of matzo and hide the larger half somewhere in the house. After the Seder, the children hunt for it. When one of the children finds it, he or she brings it to the leader of the Seder and exchanges it for coins or a gift.

But commemorating the Passover is more than just remembering a historical event.

“One purpose in commemorating this event by reenacting history is to pass down the importance to children that slavery is bad and all people should be free,” Paskow said.

Added Hochberg-Miller, “It is an eternal story that is so compelling, because it can be applied to our personal lives--with the vital theme applying to physical, emotional and spiritual slavery and freedom.”

This year, Passover begins at sundown Wednesday, and a Seder is conducted on the first and second nights. A special book called the Haggadah is read, retelling the story of redemption.

Local observances include:

* Congregation Am HaYam in Oxnard will have Passover meetings in members’ homes at 10 a.m. Thursday, Friday, April 26 and April 27. Sabbath services will be held at Congregation Am HaYam, 1401 W. Gonzales Road, at 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. April 22. Rabbi Gerald Hanig will lead all services.

For more information, call 985-2853.

* Families are invited to a reenactment of history and join Moses, Aaron and Miriam as they make an Egyptian pyramid, escape the wrath of Pharaoh, cross the Red Sea, escape from the Amelikites and enjoy the first Seder in the land of milk and honey at Temple Adat Elohim in Thousand Oaks from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

Participants are asked to bring one small box to build a pyramid. Children must be accompanied by at least one adult. The cost is $4 per person or $10 per family.

The temple is at 2420 E. Hillcrest Road. For more information, call 497-0361.

* Congregation B’nai Emet of Simi Valley will have a community Seder conducted by Rabbi Michele Paskow at Dakota’s Restaurant in Simi Valley from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday.

A traditional dinner will be served, with three choices for the main course. The cost is $28 for adults and $22 for children. Reservations are essential and can be made by calling 581-3723.

* At Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks, an easy-to-follow Haggadah has been prepared by Rabbi Shimon Paskow and may be purchased at the temple’s gift shop for $3.50.

In commemoration of the plague of the first born, first-born Jewish males are to fast the day before Passover. A special service for the first-born males, Siyum B’Chorim, will be held at the temple at 6:45 a.m. Wednesday.

At 10 a.m. Thursday, a special Passover service for children will be held in the Winer Chapel. The service will be conducted by Rabbi Michele Paskow. A puppet show will be presented, and a reception with kosher Passover foods will follow.

At the same time, Rabbi Shimon Paskow and Cantor Jeff Cohen will conduct Passover services for adults in the main sanctuary.

A kosher community Passover Seder will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The cost is $37 for adult temple members, $40 for nonmember adults, $30 for temple members age 12 and under and $32 for nonmember children. Reservations are required by Monday.

Passover ends at sundown April 27.

The temple is at 1080 Janss Road. For information, call 497-6891.

* Temple Beth Torah of Ventura will hold a community Seder, conducted by Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller and Cantor Michael Anatole at 6 p.m. Thursday. A full Passover meal will be served.

The prayer book used will be the New Union Haggadah, copies of which can be purchased at the Temple Judaica Shop.

Paid reservations must be received by the temple office by Tuesday.

The dinner costs $25 per person. Sharing meals with children 12 and younger--including an additional setup and extra bowl of soup and dessert--costs $30. Nonmember Seder dinners are $30 per person, or $36 for a shared meal.

The temple is at 7620 Foothill Drive. For details, call 647-4181.

* At Temple Beth Haverim in Agoura Hills, a Pesach Yom Tov service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

A Community Second Seder will be at 6 p.m. Thursday. Passover songs will be sung, the Haggadah will be read and a search for the afikomen will result in a prize for the finder. Reservations are required and the cost is $41 for adults, $38 for seniors, $28 for children ages 6 through 12. There is no charge for children under 6.

The Family Pesach Service is at 9:30 a.m. Friday, and the Shabbat Pesach Service will be held from 6 to 6:30 p.m. Friday.

Shabbat Chol HaMoed Service is at 9:30 p.m. April 22.

The Seventh Day of Pesach Service is at 9:30 a.m. April 26.

The Last Day of Pesach Service, including the Yizkor Memorial Service, is at 9:30 a.m. April 27.

The temple is at 5126 Clareton Drive. For more information, call (818) 991-7111.