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Congregation Bet Haverim's Passover event benefits Haitian victims
Jason Butt, Atlanta Jewish TImes Staff Writer
(3/26/2010) For the second consecutive year, Congregation Bet Haverim will hold a "Pass it Forward" Seder to raise money for those in need.
This year, the synagogue aims to help victims of the 7.0 earthquake that ravaged Haiti in January. Rabbi Joshua Lesser said the Seder will be free for anyone who wishes to attend, but that donations will be taken for afflicted Haitians.
"Knowing both the tragedy of the earthquake in Haiti and Haiti's struggle and triumph of overthrowing slavery and standing up for liberation in the face of oppression, we thought passing it forward, to help both people in Haiti recovering from the earthquake and those who have moved here since the earthquake, would be a wonderful way to connect our commitment to liberation that Passover speaks of," Rabbi Lesser said.
Lesser said he hopes a member of the Haitian community will speak at the Seder, which will take place at 6:30 p.m. on March 30 in the Fellowship Hall of Central Congregational U.C.C., to give the Passover story in Exodus a modern day perspective.
"I'm hoping they'll tie not just the earthquake story but also Haiti's history of challenging freedom so there's a real world contemporary connection," Lesser said.
When it comes to donating, Lesser said attendees should purchase phone cards so Haitian refugees can call home, grocery store gift cards and any other cards that may help with purchasing furniture. Lesser said Congregation Bet Haverim is working with the Refugee Resettlement & Immigration Services of Atlanta to make this possible.
Lesser said a number of Haitian refugees came to Atlanta after the earthquake, with a few still remaining in hospitals around the city.
"Last I checked there were about 15 people in the hospitals recovering from their injuries," Lesser said. "By the time Passover comes they are really going to need the core necessities to be able to start their lives here."
For last year's Passover Seder, Congregation Bet Haverim served approximately 120 people. Lesser expects around the same number this year, if not more. He said if more people show up than expected, he will do what he can to ensure everyone is served.
"We'll figure it out, if we have to set up a couple of more tables in the lobby then that's what we'll do," Lesser said. "The message at the Passover Seder — we read all who are hungry come and eat. I have certainly been at Seders of my own where I haven't met that ideal as fully as I like. And I feel we have the opportunity to really take on that spiritual challenge of opening our doors to those who need a place and help feed those who don't have enough."
Lesser said attendees will experience live music, including an Abayudaya (Ugandan Jewish community) version of Psalm 136, which will be performed in the Ugandan tradition. After Passover, Congregation Bet Haverim will go on a mission and work with non-profit organization Amour en Action to help with long-term infrastructure building and addressing immediate needs.
Lesser said that helping others, even with the economic hardships many Atlantans still face, is truly what Passover is about.
"Maybe there are signs this spring of economic recovery but many of us are still faced with what has been a dark cloud," Lesser said. "For me, it's things like this — even when things are challenging -- that if we can stretch a little bit to help others it really brings a sense of rightness. And any way we can pass it forward, there's still a tremendous amount for many of us to be grateful for and that's part of what we get to honor at Passover."