Though McCormick sophomore Samuel Feldman is spending this year’s Passover at home, he couldn’t leave campus without helping Northwestern Chabad prepare for its Seder feasts.
“I helped slice the brisket, chop the onions, just simple things,” Feldman said. “At Chabad, we’re cooking 100 pounds of meat en masse for a lot of people (and making it) taste properly homemade.”
Passover is a Jewish holiday celebrating the Jews’ exodus from slavery in Egypt around 1300 B.C.E. The Seder dinner, which dates back to around 90 B.C.E., features a retelling and reflection on the historic exodus. Food is used to represent different aspects of the story, including four glasses of wine that each represent a step toward freedom.
While Seders are typically spent at home, Feldman said Chabad “does a really good job at simulating the family environment.”
For Weinberg senior and NU Hillel President Sari Eisen, visiting friends she otherwise wouldn’t see is always a highlight of her Passover experience. In her role at Hillel, Eisen said she hopes to bring a similar communal vibe to the organization’s Passover programming.
This year, Hillel hosted a large, traditional Seder on Saturday, followed by individual Seders for freshman and seniors on Sunday.
Many Jewish people follow dietary restrictions throughout the holiday’s eight days, including having to forgo leavened bread. Because of that, matzo — an unleavened bread — has become a Passover staple.
As far as variety goes, matzo brings plenty to the table.
“Homemade matzo pizza is always fun,” Weinberg freshman and Hillel member Michah Kier said. “(Hillel has) a matzo pizza night, which is exciting.”
Both Hillel and Chabad offer lunch and dinner daily during Passover. Feldman said it builds community at NU because students enjoy spending time with others observing the holiday during “pretty much every meal.”
Beyond the menu, many students said they hold specific Passover traditions closely. Weinberg senior Paz Baum said she has strong Passover memories of getting to lead in prayer readings, even as the youngest in her family.
Baum said her passion for the holiday motivated her to help host last year’s Jewish Voice for Peace Seder at the Deering Meadow encampment, which encouraged support for Palestinian communities affected by the Israel-Hamas war. She said she hopes to continue that message with this year’s Freedom Seder, hosted by JVP along with other campus groups.
“The big spirit of Passover is to bring together all your friends, Jewish and non-Jewish, to celebrate the exodus of Jews from Egypt and our refusal to stand down,” Baum said.
Hillel Engagement Associate Jami Garfinkel said her favorite tradition is finding the afikomen, a piece of matzo hidden around the house. She said she planned a version of this game to play at Hillel, with the twist of including a gift card prize for the winner.
Eisen said she always looks forward to coming together with family and her friends at Hillel to celebrate the holiday.
“That community vibe, communal support and all that comes with being involved in a Jewish community is really nice and definitely extends to Passover as well,” Eisen said.
Email: migueltsang2028@u.northwestern.edu
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