The holiday of the Exodus of our ancestors from Egyptian slavery in the Khmelnytskyi Jewish community took place in accordance with traditions and customs, uniting people in one large mishpakh, where everyone could feel free and at ease. Traditional seders took place in several stages, since it was simply impossible to accommodate everyone at the same time. Fortunately, the holiday of the Exodus lasts more than one day. Employees of the Khmelnytskyi Charitable Foundation "Hesed Besht" created an interesting program, different for each individual age category.
In the Community Center "Thia" these days, as one can paraphrase a well-known proverb, there was nowhere for the crumbs from the matzah to fall. All possible rooms and all available chairs and tables were used here to accommodate all those invited to the seder at the same time. The Foundation made sure that each visitor received a traditional set of treats, and a special kosher wine was specially purchased.
At the entrance to the Community Center, a flipchart was displayed with greetings from friends, partners, and colleagues that had been sent to the Hesed Beshtu email address. A special Pesach seder was held for children, filled with not only traditional elements but also quizzes, entertainment, and fun that helped young members of the community better immerse themselves in the text of the Haggadah. The traditional search for the Amphikaman also took place, and Maksym Tarashchan found it in record time, for which he received a prize.
Adult community members had the opportunity to raise four traditional glasses of wine, sitting like nobles at the refectory table. A special program was also held for them, which expanded the traditional perception of the holiday with auxiliary means: a video sequence and music before the celebration, as well as conversations about ancient events after the ceremony. Svitlana Mikhailovna Itkina, a volunteer of the Foundation, prepared a special story about Passover and its features.
Passover is a rather symbolic holiday. In addition to the actual exodus from Egypt, it has a special meaning in the lives of modern Jews. These are days when it is worth reconsidering your life, giving up something bad, and setting your mind to something better. And, of course, not giving up hope that next time we will all meet in Jerusalem, raising a glass to the coming of Eniyahu!
