Passover 2020 begins at sundown on Wednesday, April 8, continuing through April 16. Families come together for the festive meal, and invite friends who are alone. Synagogues host communal Seders. Friends away from their families get together to observe, celebrate and, of course, eat. But this year is going to be different. We can’t gather with family and friends. Still, with a little planning, you can make it meaningful and memorable.
How About A Virtual Seder?
It’s not unheard of for people to use videoconferencing to share a celebration with far-flung friends and relatives, but this year it will be done on an unprecedented scale.
The Jewish Federation of America has a curated list of resources to hold a virtual Passover including tip-sheets, webinars, how-to guides and more.
Two popular video call platforms are Zoom and Google Hangouts and both would work well. We have provided a Quick Start Guide to both Zoom and Google Hangouts.
It’s tricky to use technology for the Seder, because there are Jewish laws that govern the use electronics on holidays like Passover.
Jews with different practices of observance will also have different levels of concern about using electronics during the Seder. For some, it is not an option.
In those cases, why not have a pre-Seder Zoom gathering? Or you can use Facebook, Google Hangouts, SKYPE or other video-connection services to congregate before sundown.
However, some Jewish authorities have suggested:
- Activating the Zoom meeting before sundown (keeping in mind the time zones of all who are participating)
- Using a virtual assistant, like Siri or Alexa, to activate the stream
See Streaming Seder, from The Rabbinical Assembly.
Order Passover Dinner for Pickup or Delivery
Chabad of NW Denver
Chabad of NW Metro Denver has a delicious seder menu plus all your basic Seder needs, so that you may conduct the Passover Seder in the brightest way possible from the comfort of your home.
The seder menu order form is a la carte and individual portion allowing you to order as little or as much as you need. All Seder foods are lovingly prepared by Leah Brackman and are handled with extreme food precautions. The Seder food is under the kosher supervision of Chabad of NW Metro Denver.
Please have your orders in as soon as possible. They will be taken as long as supplies last.
Orders can be picked up (curbside) at Chabad of NW Metro Denver, on April 7 or delivery can be arranged for $20 to anywhere in the metro Denver area.
If you have any questions regarding the menu or the ingredients please email Leah at Leahbrackman9@gmail.com or call at 720.837.3733
Find the menu, prices and order form here.
Bagel Deli
The Bagel Deli is cooking for Passover with a limited menu or items for curbside pickup. They have brisket, kugel, latkes, chicken soup, matzo balls, chopped liver, whitefish salad and more.
Phone orders only. Call 303-726-6790 or 303-563-9458. Curbside pickup is available if you pre-pay by credit card. Delivery is by arrangement (limited area) with a minimum $25 order. The restaurant is at 6439 E. Hampden, Denver.
Temple Emanuel
Perfect Pear and Temple Emanuel are partnering to help you get a kosher for Passover meal in time for the first Seder. Meals will be available for pick-up at Temple Emanuel on Tuesday, April 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or on Wednesday, April 8 from 9 a.m. to noon. If you live within 10 miles of Temple and you are in a high risk category for COVID-19 please send an email to Sarah Brown to see how they can get a meal delivered to you. Click here for an order form.
Temple Sinai
Temple Sinai and A Perfect Pear catering are partnering to help you get a kosher style meal for Passover in time for the first Seder. Meals will be available for pick-up at Temple Sinai on Tuesday, April 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or on Wednesday, April 8 from 9 a.m. to noon. If you live within 10 miles of Temple and you are in a high risk category for COVID-19, please send an email to Lisa Thorner to see how we can get a meal delivered to you. Find the order form here.
Downloadable Haggadah
The Haggadah is the book that guides participants through the Seder. You can purchase a Haggadah, but there are countless versions that you can download and print, for personal use. Here are a few:
- Hebrew/English Haggadah, from Chabad
- The Passover Haggadah (in English) from Jewish Federation
- Coloring Book Haggadah
- Contemporary Haggadah from JewishBoston
- Build-Your-Own Haggadah
Passover Basics
Passover is a festival of freedom. It commemorates the Exodus from slavery in Egypt, under the leadership of Moses — “Let my people go!” — following the 10 plagues. (If you want the full overblown technicolor version watch “The Ten Commandments” starring Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brenner as Pharaoh.)
The items on the Seder plate each represent something about that story. Here’s a very brief description of each of those objects. If you google, you will certainly find other interpretations of the symbolism of each of these objects.
- Shank bone: a roasted bone that represents the Paschal (lamb) sacrifice made by the ancient Hebrews.
- Boiled/roasted egg: stands in place of a sacrificial offering performed in the days of the Second Temple
- Maror (bitter herb): Horseradish is commonly used, but any bitter herb will work. It refers tot he bitterness of slavery.
- Charoset: A sweet mixture of apples, nuts, wine and cinnamon, that represents the mortar the Hebrew slaves used to make bricks
- Karpas: A green vegetable, usually parsley, symbolizing the freshness of spring.
- Hazaret: A second bitter herb, with the same symbolism as Maror.
Other elements of the Seder that you might have heard about:
- 4 glasses of wine (or juice) are consumed by participants.
- Matzoh, unleavened bread, is a big part of Passover. It reminds us of the haste with which the Jews left Egypt.
- The Afikomen is a piece broken off from the matzoh during the Seder. Many families’ traditions call for it to be hidden. Then, the children look for it, and return it for a reward. There are other variations of this tradition. For instance, in some families, the children steal it and ransom it for a reward.
- The 4 questions: traditionally, the youngest child recites the “4 questions,” which cover the basics of why Passover is special and important.
Free Passover Recipes
After the telling of the Exodus story is over, and the Haggadah is (mostly) finished, dig into the festive meal.
Some traditional items are:
- Brisket
- Roasted chicken
- Matzoh ball soup
- Potato kugel
- Apple cake
Find free Passover recipes at:
Temple Sinai has Passover meals and Seder plates available too.
https://www.sinaidenver.org/form/passover-seder-2020-meals.html
Have a blessed Passover
From Chabad.org:
What makes this night different from all other nights?
1. On all nights we need not dip even once, and on this night we dip twice!
2. On all nights we eat leavened bread or matzah, and on this night, only matzah!
3. On all nights we eat various vegetables, and on this night, bitter herbs!
4. On all nights we eat sitting upright or reclining, and on this night we all recline!
Thanks Kathy. I have added it to the list. — Laura