Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

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Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

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Seder brings cultures together

“Soul Food” spread on tables in Hardin Hall Tuesday night included fruit salad, collard greens, candied yams and fried chicken.

It was all kosher for Passover.

The third annual Black Jewish Freedom Seder highlights the history and struggles shared by Jews and African Americans, said Weinberg sophomore Dahlia Rockowitz, a member of the event’s planning committee. The food, catered by Sodhexo through the Fiedler Hillel Center, also blended the two cultures.

“We kind of met somewhere in the middle, which is the point of the program,” she said.

About 65 students, faculty and staff members clustered around tables in the bowels of the Rebecca Crown Center for an evening of performances, readings and food. Pastor Glenn R. Plummer, president of the Fellowship of Israel and Black America, delivered the keynote address.

The seder was open to everyone and brought people of different ethnicities together on a common understanding of oppression, said Communication sophomore Robert Lavenstein, also on the planning committee.

“We all understand what it means to be oppressed,” he said. “Race is still one of the number one problems in this world.”

During the keynote address, Plummer emphasized historical connections between the Jewish and black communities. Blacks linked their struggles with slavery to Jewish slavery in Egypt and added words from Old Testament scripture to their music, he said. The two communities also came together during the Civil Rights Movement.

“(Blacks) actually saw themselves in a parallel track with the Jews,” he said.

Plummer challenged audience members to continue to stand together through tough times.

“Today, Israel needs friends,” he said. “They’re surrounded by enemies.”

A Klezmer band performed Jewish music early in the evening and featured horns, clarinets and other instruments. Communication sophomore Matan Ring, who also performed in last year’s Black Jewish Freedom Seder, played the Arab drums. He later leapt about the front of the room with Communication sophomore Jena Lowe in an interpretive dance.

Ring said he attended the seder because he wanted to see connections between the two communities.

“We’re going to continue this relationship,” he said. “I hope we don’t stop here,” he said.

Seder attendees filled their plates with food and sat among people of all different backgrounds, sharing their experiences and learning from one another. Tables were laden with matzo and bottles of soda and grape juice.

Weinberg freshman Jessica Bell, the historian of For Members Only, NU’s black student alliance, said she attended the event to show support and because she had heard about the commonalities between Jews and African Americans.

Holding a plate topped with collard greens, Northwestern librarian Laurel Minott said she had been curious about the seder and decided to attend.

“I had read about these seders before, and I thought this was an exciting time to be involved,” she said. “It’s an experience I’ve not had before.”

Reach Lauren Pond at [email protected].

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Seder brings cultures together