ASU Chabad to host annual Passover Seder

 by Dana Fishfeld
 published on Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Jewish students do not have to worry about not being able to celebrate Passover just because they are far from home. ASU Chabad hosts a Passover Seder every year, and this year is no different.

ASU Chabad Rabbi Shmuel Tiechtel has been holding Passover Seders for the past four years for Jewish students who live far away from their families and have no place to celebrate the holiday.

Passover is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the freedom of Jewish slaves from Egypt. It is an eight-day holiday; the Passover Seder, a ritual feast, is held on the first and second nights of Passover, outside of Israel. Foods typically eaten during the Seder include bitter herbs, a roasted lamb or a chicken wing, a roasted egg, parsley or celery, matzah, and other traditional foods, all which symbolize certain emotions to remind Jews of their liberation.

This year the Seder will be held at the new and much larger Chabad house, located at The Rohr Chabad House at ASU.

"I live very far from my family, and Chabad has made it possible for me to celebrate Passover when I would have no where else to go," said Rory Stern, who is originally from Florida.

Stern said that the Seder is very enjoyable and easy to follow even if you are not religious. "It is mostly conducted in English and it does no take too long either, and the food is really great too," Stern said.

Last year there were about 120 people who attended the first night, and about 65 people who attended the second night, Tiechtel said. This year Tiechtel expects over 150 people the first night and abut 70 people the second night.

Tiechtel, who has led Passover Seders all over the world, is looking forward to this year's Passover and thinks it will be even more successful then previous years.

If you go
Where: The Rohr Chabad House, 971 S. Ash Avenue, Tempe
When: Saturday, April 19 @ 8:10 p.m.; Sunday, April 20 @ 8:10 p.m
Cost: $11 for students; $36 for other guests

Reservations are required. Make yours at www.jewishasu.com/passover before Wednesday, April 16 to guarantee yourself a spot.