Congregation Kneseth Israel to host annual Passover Seder

Congregation Kneseth Israel, 330 Divison St. in Elgin, will host its annual Community Passover Seder at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 31.

"There will be lots of singing, a telling of the Passover Story, new readings, and all the traditional, yummy foods," Rabbi Margaret Frisch Klein said. "In every generation, we are to see the story as if we personally were freed from Egypt. Every year, we make the story fresh by adding new things to the seder. On my seder plate I will have an orange, a chocolate covered coffee bean, a tomato, a beet, maybe even an artichoke."

The telling of the Passover story is commanded in Exodus, "You shall tell your child on that day …" and is designed to get children to ask questions. Those new elements on the seder plate help encourage asking new questions. Asking the "Four Questions" and searching for the afikomen, the dessert piece of matzah, is a highlight for many children.

On Sunday, March 18, the students and their parents from four area synagogues will gather at Congregation Kneseth Israel as part of a Jewish United Fund education grant to prepare for Passover. Called "Passover Palooza," there will be opportunities for singing and learning new and old songs, designing a Miriam's Cup or one for Elijah, a giant seder plate board game and matzah tasting. There will also be an opportunity to meet with Judy Jury of Interfaith Family to talk about the joys and challenges of Passover and Easter.

"This is especially important this year when Passover starts on the night of Good Friday."

To make reservation for the Passover seder, contact Congregation Kneseth Israel at www.ckielgin.org and click through on the banner. Deadline will be Friday, March 23.