Although Passover (Pesach) may seem a long way off, a group of eleven first-year Rabbinical and Cantorial students in Jerusalem at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), are already planning an important 2012 Passover project.
These students, including myself, (and one fantastic spouse) will travel to several countries within the Former Soviet Union (FSU) to organize and lead Passover seders and programming with Jewish communities.
- What does Passover mean to you?
- Who sits around your Passover table?
- What would your Judaism look like without Passover?
Building on the momentum and success of nine years of this initiative, the 10th Annual FSU Pesach Project seeks to strengthen these traditions where they are already in place and introduce them to others in under-served communities. By supporting the FSU Pesach Project, you are helping to celebrate the Jewish story of liberation in a region where oppression is a real and recent memory.
I hope you will support these first-year FSU passionate students and these communities to celebrate our powerful narrative of moving from slavery to freedom through story, ritual, food, reflection and community building.
HUC-JIR, in close partnership with the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ), which unites and supports Reform congregations worldwide, is thrilled to support the 10th Annual FSU Pesach Project. This project started in response to a call from FSU Jewish communities for Progressive Jewish education. We work closely with local communities to provide meaningful Passover celebrations for thousands of under-served Jews in the region. For more information on this important project, please visit the FSU Project website: http://
Knowing the students donate their time, what are the other costs? We estimate all the important bits and pieces will add up to about $30,000. Of course, the most significant costs are air travel, interpreters, food for the seders, and educational materials. As noted, each student is volunteering their time, and forgoing Passover celebrations with their families in the States or seders in Jerusalem. For us it is one year out of the annual cycle of celebration. For the participants they report it is unique and important project that strengthens existing communities, and in many cases, introduces children, families, and seniors to Progressive Judaism. This effort serves to enable these communities to continue observing Passover in the years to come.
Your contribution will make a huge contribution to making this initiative possible. There are several ways to donate (all donations are tax-deductible):
By mail: HUC-JIR Attn: Christina Gall
3101 Clifton Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45220
*Checks should be made out to “HUC-JIR-FSU Project”, please write the name Jessica Wainer in the memo line.
If you have any questions regarding this exciting project, please email me at jessica.wainer@gmail.com
On behalf of everyone at HUC-JIR, and our partners at the World Union for Progressive Judaism, we appreciate your commitment to making this project a success for us and for the FSU Jewish community.
Thank you very much
Спасибо תודה רבה
Jessie and the FSU Team of 2012
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