By Brianna Liberman, Syracuse N.Y. (NCC News)- Zoom. That’s been our answer to everything for the past year. And with Passover just 9 days away, it looks like our computers will be head of the table for yet another holiday.
“It’s a little funky to have your laptop sitting at the seder table,”Fellman says. “But here we are.”
Temple Concord has stood the test of time. Located on the corner of Madison Street, Temple Concord has been around since 1839, making it the ninth oldest reform congregation in the country. Daniel Fellman has been the Rabbi there for nearly 12 years, and there is a congregation of 325 families.
In his time of being a rabbi, Fellman could have never predicted anything like this. The past two Passovers have been unlike any other. But the Passover story and reason why we celebrate stays the same.
“It’s a celebration of freedom,” he says. “It’s the birth of the Israelite people.”
The last service held in the synagogue was March 13, 2020. While the temple remains closed, people are leaving their car trunks open.
“So last year, we distributed seder plates with all the different ritual items on the plate just before Passover.”Fellman says. “And so we had a drive thru thing, where we were putting them in people’s trunks. We’re actually doing that again this year.
It’s important to note that all religions are wrestling with the same ideas on how to keep their congregations engaged, and safe. Thus, Jews are not the only ones dealing with this. Christians had to figure out Christmas and Easter from a distance, as did Muslims on Ramadan. This unity embodies the Passover story.
“In fact, that’s part of what Passover is all about,” he says.That we were this rag-tag group of slaves, but we became unified and united as a group of people.”
While the goal for Jews is always to make it to the holy land of Jerusalem, that might be delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. In the meantime, Newhouse Associate Professor Roy Gutterman says it’s the small steps like being able to see friends and family that matters.
“Maybe next year with people,” he says. “We used to say next year in Jerusalem, next year with other people.”
Passover is full of history and traditions like the century and a half year-old Temple that stands today. One of those traditions is eating Matzah. When the Jews left Egypt, the bread didn’t have time to rise, which is why it is unleavened.
Temple Concord’s seder will be held completely remotely. Rabbi Fellman says he is expecting 125 people at the very least to join. Registration is on the Temple website.
