Posted: 4/22/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Sebastian Scheiner, The Associated Press Israelis watch images projected as part of a show for the Jewish holiday of Passover on the walls of Jerusalem's Old City, near Jaffa Gate, on Monday.

As night fell on Saturday, Jewish students sat down with their families or friends for the first Seder meal of Passover.

Since the beginning of the eight-day holiday occurred on a weekend this year, many students were able to go home and celebrate with their families.

"Most Jewish holidays have a strong community element and community comes from family," said Mari Gordon, junior in LAS. "I grew up celebrating with my family and I still want to."

Gordon said she was unable to celebrate Passover with her family last year because the first two days of the holiday were during the week. But this year, she got to go home.

"A lot of students are going home this year, especially if their family is doing a Seder Saturday night," said Rabbi Dovid Tiechtel, director of the Chabad Center for Jewish Life. "It's going to be a big exodus up to Chicago."

Traditionally, families gather on the first two days of Passover to eat a Seder meal and re-tell the story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt.

"A lot of people can't go home Saturday and Sunday and there's Seders on both days," said Michael Lavin, sophomore in Business. "A lot of people will go home Saturday and come back Sunday."

Lavin and Gordon are both celebrating one Seder at home and one on campus this year. They have also both worked to plan unique celebrations to cater to the diverse lifestyles of Jewish students.

Lavin collaborated with Chabad to plan a meal called the "Greek Seder" that took place Sunday night at Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity.

"Students miss being at home, so they want to create a home environment here," Tiechtel said.

Participants created a homey atmosphere at the Greek Seder by praying and eating together for the experience, instead of just rushing through, Lavin said.

The Greek Seder was one of three Seder meals Chabad offered.

Hillel offered nine Seder options over the weekend for members of the Jewish community.

Chabad and Hillel are also offering kosher meals throughout the week until the conclusion of Passover on Sunday.

"Passover as a holiday provides many Jewish students with a connection to their own Jewish identity," said Joel Schwitzer, executive director of Hillel. "So it's important for Hillel to have a lot going on to make the most of this experience for students who may be unable to go home."

Another one of the options at Hillel's Margie K. and Louis N. Cohen Center for Jewish Life was a reform environmentalist Seder on Sunday night.

Last year, Gordon and Joseph Altshuler, junior in FAA, wrote their own Haggadah, or Passover prayer booklet, with an environmentalist twist.

"At its roots, Passover is a very environmental holiday season, with the harvest changing and spring coming," Gordon said. "It seemed natural to include an ancient holiday into modern environmental issues."

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