All Things Pesach 2026

HAPPENINGS

Saturday, 3/28

Passover Sephardic Culinary Workshop at PJ Havdallah – 5:00pm
Looking forward to Passover but feeling uninspired by your usual menu? Are you craving new ways to imbue your seder with delicious food and rituals? Join Community Creative Fellow and culinary historian Sara Gardner to explore vibrant Jewish flavors from across the Sephardic diaspora and to learn how to integrate these recipes and stories into a meaningful and delectable seder experience. Together we will cook, taste, and reflect on how incorporating historical stories and tastes from our global diaspora can enrich our modern Jewish holiday table.

Wednesday, 4/1

Zoom Seder 1st Night with Gail Shapiro and Michael Murphy – 6:00pm
You are welcome to join our Seventh Annual Virtual First Night Seder. We’ll gather at 6:00 pm on April 1, with the equally reverent and irreverent (lots of new original song parodies!) service starting shortly after. Dinner is off-screen, then we’ll re-gather to complete the seder after dinner. For the Zoom link, and a copy of our new Haggadah, please email gailshapiro@comcast.net

Thursday, 4/2

Zoom Seder 2nd Night with David Daniel Klipper – 5:30pm
I have been leading a second night Seder on zoom for quite a few years now, and have put together a special Haggadah from contributions I’ve received from people. The service is serious and playful, musical and poetic, some Hebrew, lots of English, with some interesting pieces of history thrown in (Passover during the Civil War!). If you don’t have an in-person Seder to attend on the evening of April 2, please feel free to join us. All are welcome, from all faith traditions, all levels of experience, and all types of theology.

Register here to receive the zoom link and Haggadah

Saturday, 4/4

Torah Study – 9:00am
Normal groups and locations

Shabbat Chol HaMoed Pesach – 10:30am
We’re delighted to offer two innovative options for our Shabbat Chol haMo’eid Pesach morning!

• • You can join Rabbi Josh, Cantor Vera, and Outdoor Programs Director Arielle Sabot for a contemplative nature Hallel on the Shabbat of Passover 5786. Following Torah study, Shabbat services will begin with a guided outdoor walk at Grey Reservation (in person only).
  • You can join Reb David Daniel Klipper for a hybrid meditative Shacharit in the Beth El sanctuary, exploring the experience of rest after crossing the Reed Sea.

We’ll come back together as one unified community for the Torah service in the Beth El sanctuary at 11:30am, followed by Yizkor.

Come for the entire morning or join us for specific moments!

MITZVOT

Hachnasat Orchim – Hospitality 

Do you have room at your seder for more folks? Are you looking for a seder to join? 

Both are part of the mitzvah of observing Pesach! If you’d like to be matched for seder, please reply here. In your response, please indicate:  if you are offering to host or looking for a seder to attend; for which night, and for how many people.

We will do our best to make matches! 

M’chirat Chametz – Selling of Chametz

We have a custom of “selling” one’s chametz (all food products not suitable for Pesach use) before Pesach begins. If you would like to “sell your chametz”, please return this form to the office, with a check made out to Beth El (please write “chametz” in the memo line), by Monday, March 30.  Donations can also be made online here.

RESOURCES

Nature Haggadah – Enjoy a seder in the woods with our Nature Haggadah. Print it out or use the fillable version and take it with you on a walk in the woods for a unique perspective. You can do it before Passover and bring your experience to your Seder, or during the holiday for an alternative Passover experience. However you use it, we hope it will bring you to freedom in some unexpected way

IMPORTANT REMINDER ABOUT PESACH KASHRUT 

Any food brought into Beth El for any reason from Tuesday, March 31 through Thursday, April 9, must be Kosher for Passover.