Chabad Centers across the states of Kansas and Missouri are making plans to assure that there is a seat for every Jew at the seder table this Passover.
“No Jew will go without” is the motto of this campaign announced by the regional headquarters for Chabad-Lubavitch of Kansas and Missouri. The goal of this new campaign is to assure that each and every Jewish person who wishes to join a Passover seder has a reserved seat at the seder table at absolutely no charge.
In order to achieve this goal, numerous public seders are being offered for all, with no affiliation or membership required. Each of the public seders will feature gourmet cuisine, Shmurah Matzah — the Rolls Royce of matzah — and the four traditional cups of wine for each participant. The seders will be held at the following locations:
• Chabad House Center of Kansas City at 6201 Indian Creek Drive in Overland Park
• Chabad on the Plaza at 4901 Wornall, No. 105, Kansas City, Mo.
• Chabad at the University of Kansas at 1201 West 19th St. in Lawrence, Kan.
Chabad is also sponsoring a Russian-born rabbi who, together with Rabbi Choni Wineberg, will lead a seder specifically for the elderly Russian community in Russian. As it is difficult for these people to get out at night, the seder will be hosted at Santa Fe Towers 8 p.m. Monday, April 18.
Each seder will be led by a team of Chabad rabbis who will conduct an engaging, thought-provoking and fun seder. The seders are English-friendly and child-friendly and Hebrew-English Haggadas will be provided so that all can participate equally. The traditional texts will be interspersed with stories, Chassidic wit and wisdom.
The first seder will be held Monday, April 18, and the second Seder on Tuesday, April 19. Both will begin at 8:30 p.m.
A central website has been established for easy sign-up and seat reservation. While these seders are offered absolutely free of charge, donations are welcome. Visit www.GOTSEDER.com to reserve a seat.
Chabad Centers will also be distributing special Passover kits including hand-made Shmurah Matzah to enhance people’s individual seders.
In addition to the seders, in order to accommodate the many Jewish students at the University of Kansas, Chabad at KU will be offering a kosher-for-Passover meal plan for the entire week of Passover. Students can reserve their meals at www.HawkSeder.com.
The joy of the festival will be shared with area seniors as well. ‘Goldie’s Gift,” a project of the Yachad Kosher Food Pantry, will distribute more than 300 Passover gift bags with holiday treats to many seniors and their families.
“The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, taught that no solitary Jewish person ought to feel left out. Every Jew, regardless of their background, affiliation or even location, should have the opportunity to celebrate Passover,” said Chabad Rabbi Mendy Wineberg, program director of Chabad of Kansas & Missouri. “In keeping with our tradition of the past 40 years, our local centers will be once again working feverishly to ensure that every Jew can celebrate Passover and have all their holiday needs met. We are proud to share that with our efforts combined, the local Chabad’s will be hosting over 500 of our fellow Jews at the seder table this Passover.”
For more information on any or all of the above programs, visit www.GotSeder.com or call (913) 649-4852.