Celebrate Passover with Congregation Beth El

On Passover we retell our People’s core story of redemption and freedom. The festival is primarily observed at home, but at Beth El we also create joyful and meaningful opportunities for our community to celebrate together. We hope you’ll join us this year!

First Night Seder Matching
Are you a Beth El member looking for a seder to attend on the first night of Passover (Saturday April 12th)? Do you have an extra seat or two at the seder you are hosting on the first night of Passover? Whether you’re looking for a spot or have room at your table, please fill out our First Night Seder Matching form! Our Beth El Ritual Committee and staff will match hosts with guests. In order to allow our hosts enough time to prepare, please be sure to add your information to the form no later than Friday, March 28th. Out of respect to our generous hosts, we are unable to accommodate late requests.

Festival Morning Service - Sunday April 13th at 10:15am in the Beit Midrash and on Zoom
Join us to celebrate the first morning of Pesach week at our festival morning service! We’ll enjoy the special texts of the season at this intimate and joyful service.

Second Night Congregational Seder – Sunday, April 13th at 5:00pm in the Beth El Sanctuary/Social Hall
Our joyful and delicious congregational seder returns! Join Rabbi Ira, Cantor Elaya, the Beth El Chorus, Beth El friends old and new and friends from our Building Interfaith Bridges partnership as we together enjoy a festive and musical Pesach celebration and a delicious kosher-for-Passover meal. The seder will include singing from our Beth El Chorus and will be accessible and meaningful for participants of all ages! Let all who are hungry come and eat! Register here by April 3rd. There is no Zoom option for the seder - we look forward to celebrating with you in person at Beth El!

Passover Yizkor Circle (at 5:00pm) & Service (at 6:15pm) - Friday April 18th 
Our Beth El Yizkor Circle is a facilitated gathering for anyone remembering a loved one who has died, no matter how recently. It is an opportunity to speak about the people we have lost, our experiences of mourning and grief, and the journey of healing and memory. Our losses compound over time, especially as we have lived through the challenges of the last few years, and the need for community is more important than ever in our healing. Our Yizkor Circle will be held in person in the Beit Midrash; there is no Zoom option for the Yizkor Circle. Yizkor is our tradition’s dedicated memorial service; an intentional time and space to name and acknowledge the presence of the absence of important people in our lives who have died. Yizkor is recited on Yom Kippur and the three ancient pilgrimage festivals: Sukkot, Pesach, and Shavuot. This year’s Pesach Yizkor service will be held in the Beit Midrash as part of our Shabbat evening service, beginning at 6:15pm and will be mixed presence. All are invited to attend either in-person or on Zoom.

Post-Passover Pizza and Brews with Beth Ale Brews Family Beer Garden: A gathering for families with children in Kindergarten-7th Grade (give or take)! Sunday, April 20th from 4:30-6:30pm!
Bring the family as we turn the Meadow into Beth El's own "Chaverim Beer Garden". We’ll order pizza for everyone to enjoy a post-Passover fix of leaven (with gluten free options)!

PLEASE RSVP here in advance. $5 per person.
*note we'll have non-alcoholic beverage options for adults (and kids) as well as a variety of beer.

Modern Haggadot: Ancient Texts, New Meanings Infusing our Seders with meaning with Rabbi Lee Bycel
Sunday, March 30th at 4pm, Library 
Since the 1960s, many groups and individuals have infused the traditional Haggadah with contemporary creativity, addressing pressing societal issues. Themes spanning social and political oppression, feminism, secular Judaism, LGBTQ+ rights, civil rights, and Jews in recovery, to name but just a few, have spurred the creation of personalized Haggadot. Over the years, I've collected hundreds of these unique interpretations. In our discussion, we'll explore these creative Haggadot, aiming to spark ideas on revitalizing the ancient text with relevance and resonance for Passover this year.