KINGSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — People of the Jewish faith have begun the celebration of Passover on Saturday. A local community center and Temple Israel came together for their annual Passover celebration this evening.
The Friedman Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Kingston teamed up with Temple Israel to hold its community Seder on the first night of Passover.
The celebration consists of songs, stories, and symbolic foods.
Preparing for a sacred meal celebrating the first night of Passover, the washing of the hands is an important ritual.
"It's like we are together as a family, and we are leaving this slavery to be free people," Susy Weiss from Dallas said.
Susy Weiss was born in Peru and has lived in Dallas for the past decade.
This JCC Passover celebration has become a tradition for her.
And the first night of Passover is one of the most important of the eight-night celebration.
It commemorates when God brought the 10th plague, killing all the firstborn in Egypt.
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The Israelites sacrificed a lamb, marked their doorsteps with blood, and ate unleavened bread known as matzah.
The traditional Passover Seder marks the beginning of this holiday.
Led by Temple Israel's Rabbi Larry Kaplan, the service is an interactive celebration and a time of reflection.
"It helps us to have a little introspection, even with our friends and family around," Rabbi Kaplan explained.
Following along with the Haggadah that reads in English and Hebrew, the Seder begins with a blessing of the wine that proclaims the holiness of the day.
At the center of the table is the symbolic Seder plate representing different parts of the exodus story.
It contains food items like an egg for new life, parsley for renewal, and a shank bone for sacrifice.
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"It's the idea of getting together to commemorate some of these ancient things that tie us together to literally thousands of years ago," Rabbi Kaplan stated.
"I don't know what any of that is, but it's a whole story, and I am blown away by that," Zebulon Borges from Coatesville said.
Zebulon Borges is a part of a small and non-Jewish group of people who celebrated the service at the JCC this year.
He was invited by some friends, and the Old Testament happens to be his preferred part of the christian bible.
"Being here makes me feel like there's more serving I can do. I like to serve people and feel like I can do things for them," Borges added.
Whether this Passover marks a first celebration or another, it holds the same significance for those gathered at the JCC of giving back to the world.
"In a way, we don't like to destroy, we like to build things, we like to study and do good things as a contribution to the world," Weiss said.
This year, Passover will be celebrated until sundown on Sunday, April 20.
