We are still in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. This means we’ve had to get a little creative with how we celebrate this traditionally in-person holiday.
 

Those who have experienced a seder before may remember that the question "Why is this night different from all other nights?" is a key part of Passover. This year, we also pose the question “'How does the choice to gather virtually for this year's seder provide us with new insights into the essence of the Passover story?'"

We’re not necessarily looking to re-understand the Passover story in a historical sense, but to explore how the story lives in ourselves. We’re not asking for you to come up with answers (Judaism is all about wrestling with questions) - we’re just inviting you to be here with as much of an open mind and an open heart as you are able, knowing that this year’s seder will inevitably be different than any other.

Rabbi Charlie Schwartz points out, “The Seder was developed over 2,000 years ago following the destruction of the Temple as a home-based replacement for the Paschal sacrifice. At its core, the Seder is trying to give access to an experience that is impossible to fully recreate. The Seder as we know it is the result of a world of rapidly changing needs, and the product of incredible innovation and imagination to address those needs. This was as true 2,000 years ago as it is today.” Zoom is just the newest example of an innovation that allows us to continue to celebrate the holiday today, in fact allowing us to gather with people we wouldn't normally have around our family seder tables, and for that we are grateful.

Rabbi Rachel Grant Meyer says, "The whole idea of matzah is that we make something out of nothing – if our dough doesn’t have time to rise, we strap it to our back and eat it unleavened. Similarly, I see the presence of a computer screen as making abundance out of what could have seemed like nothing."

Adapted from: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/04/03/coronavirus-passover-virtual-seders-zoom-column/5106887002/ https://mashable.com/article/zoom-passover-seder-how-to/


haggadah Section: Introduction
Source: USA Today, Mashable, and Jessie Duke