Jews throughout the metropolitan Chicago area are preparing to celebrate Passover. With a plethora of options in Chicago and the suburbs, there are plenty of ways to join the local Jewish community for a meaningful holiday.
Chag Sameach
!
Looking for a seder?
Silverstein Base Hillel will be hosting Seders for students in the Chicago area. For students studying abroad, KAHAL: Your Jewish Home Abroad sets up students at Seders with communities and host families around the world. Last year, students attended over 1,000 Seders in 55 countries and 110 cities, and this year, students will have even more options to choose from.
metrochicagohillel.org/base
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kahalabroad.org
The ARK hosts Seders on the first two nights of Passover in partnership with Congregation Bnai Ruven in West Rogers Park. Their food pantry will also be kosher for Passover starting one week before the holiday, and in addition to the usual food offerings, roasts will be available to enhance clients' seder meals.
arkchicago.org
North Shore Congregation Israel's Community Recovery Seder is an alcohol-free seder experience for people in recovery from addiction, their loved ones, and allies.
nsci.org/communityrecoveryseder
CJE SeniorLife's Holocaust Community Services is hosting their 4th Annual Intergenerational Passover Seder at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. "A Seder to Remember" is an intergenerational program linking the themes of freedom, redemption, and remembrance as they connect to the Holocaust and Passover. This will be a bilingual program in English and Russian.
cje.net
For older adults in residential communities, Rabbi Suzanne Griffel will be conducting model Seders in the week leading up to Passover at Bethany Retirement Community in Chicago and Atria at River Trail in Bolingbrook. Rabbi Eliezer Dimarsky will be doing a Russian Model Seder for the Russian residents of Lieberman Center for Health and Rehabilitation in Skokie, and several English Seders will follow. Gidwitz Place will host Seders both nights as well as "Mini Seders" for Friend Center for Memory Care residents. Maot Chitim will also host a Seder for the Jewish residents of Misericordia, and CJE Adult Day Services will host a model Seder courtesy of CJE SeniorLife's Rabbi Michelle Stern.
Chabad is hosting public Seders on both nights, at 7 p.m., at both Chabad of Lakeview, (773-495-7127) and the Bnei Ruven congregation, (773-743-5434).
Looking for a learning opportunity?
JUF's Young Leadership Division (YLD) is hosting "Beyond the Passover Basics," an event focusing on new perspectives of the Seder table and Passover in general. While enjoying dinner with friends from YLD and Silverstein Base Hillel: Loop, learn how to establish your own Passover traditions.
juf.org/passover
Weinberg Community for Senior Living in Deerfield, in conjunction with CJE SeniorLife, will host its annual "Taste of Passover" event where the community can sample Passover dishes and learn recipes to cook for this year's Seder.
cje.net/weinberg-community-senior-living
Residents of Robineau Residence in Skokie will learn about Passover in a class from CJE SeniorLife's Rabbi Michelle Stern.
Looking for a way to help others?
Maot Chitim is offering two types of volunteer opportunities in the Chicago area. First, 150 volunteers are needed to help unload and unpack Passover box deliveries and package the items for delivery to clients. Then, 400-500 volunteers are needed to deliver 5,000 Passover food packages to those in need. Volunteers ages 12 and up are welcome.
maotchitim.org/
Open your home to young adults around the Chicago area by hosting a Seder or Passover-themed Shabbat dinner with OneTable. Or, check out the options on offer, and be a guest at a new friend's home.
onetable.org/chicago-hub
Preschoolers from Moriah Early Childhood Center and high school students from Rochelle Zell Jewish High School will visit Weinberg Community for Senior Living to celebrate Passover with programming and chocolate-covered matzah making.
Volunteers will join Robineau Residence to lead Seders for older adults.
Looking for a fun Passover experience?
Moishe Houses around the city and beyond will be hosting a variety of events during Passover. Want to build a matzah pizza and then enjoy a "carbfest" once the eight nights are over? Each Moishe House will feature its own fun schedule of programming for young adults.
Moishehouse.org
Students at Chicago Jewish Day School and JCC Chicago will experience plenty of Passover fun with a variety of programs. From Passover plays and matzah making to toddler re-enactments, mock Seders, scavenger hunts, and more, these programs will help young Jews discover the fun side of their heritage.
