The best-known quote from the Pesach Haggadah is, “why is this night different from all other nights?” Last year, this quote took on a whole new meaning with the onset of the pandemic and the realization that most of us would be having a virtual seder.
This year, unless everyone in your group has been fully vaccinated, we will once again be gathering virtually for this tradition.
For 2020, we came up with a “Passover Survival Guide” to help you navigate this unusual time of virtual seders and take-out Passover meals. For 2021, we have updated the information.
Next year we will be gathering again in person – or in Israel, if we’re lucky.
Virtual Passover Resources
18Doors has lots of online resources on hosting inclusive virtual seders.
How to Host a Virtual Passover Seder
Alma offers a comprehensive guide for hosting a collaborative, meaningful seder — even when the guests are physically far away. (2020)
The Art of Virtual Gathering
Check out Haggadot.com’s Zoom conversation (2020) on hosting your own virtual seder. For more information, join their Seder Planners Group on Facebook.
Everything you need for a virtual Passover
Whether you’re hosting your first seder or planning an event for your community, Jewish Together has resources to help.
Burning Man-ischewitz and More
JewBelong has everything you need from tips to host a seder to a Passover drinking game!
Seder on Sefaria
Sefaria offers virtual mock seder activities meant to educate, engage, and connect people around Passover prep and the seder. Each may be used as is, or you can make a copy of the sheet and adapt it for a different setting or audience.
Building Your Mental Health Passover Seder Plate
The Blue Dove Foundation recognizes Passover may look a little different in 2020 with COVID-19 leading up to what is traditionally a time of gathering for family and friends to come together. We hope these Passover resources can bring some calm to you this year.
This night is different from all other nights.
OneTable created Seder2020 to help make hundreds of virtual seders a success. They’re continuing to help people connect over technology with Jewish ritual and they’re back with Here for Passover.
Make your own Haggadah
Making your own Haggadah with Haggodot.com is easy! They are the largest online resource for the Passover Haggadah with thousands of options for blessings, artwork, translations, songs, activities and more. Mix and match, download and print at home.
Social Justice Seders
This year, put social justice on your seder table with the American Jewish World Service Haggadah to spark meaningful conversations.
Download the HIAS Haggadah to include a deeper exploration of the global refugee crisis in your seder this year.
8 Great Haggadot if You Have Young Children at Your Seder
ReformJudaism.org has rounded up various family Haggadot (plural of Haggadah) recommended by the Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism and the Families with Young Children staff of the Union for Reform Judaism.
Century Catering
503-475-4875
centurycateringholiday.square.site
Orders are due by midnight on Sunday, March 21, for pickup on Thursday, March 25, between 3:30 and 5:30 pm at the MJCC turnaround at 6651 SW Capitol Hwy. in Portland.
Chabad of Northeast Portland
2858 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland
503-309-4490
jewishnortheast.com/seder
Order Seder-to-Go by March 21 for pickup on March 26. No one will be turned away due to financial constraints.
Kachka
960 SE 11th Ave, Portland
503-235-0059
kachkapdx.com
Offering takeout seder meal for two, “seder plate” zakuski (small appetizers) inspired by the six symbolic items of the seder plate, four “cups of wine” vodka infusion flight and house-made matzah.
Elephants Delicatessen
503-299-6304
elephantsdeli.com
Curbside pickup and delivery available Saturday, March 27 through Sunday, March 28, 9:30 am–3:30 pm. All orders must be placed by 2 pm one day prior. Our pick-up locations include: NW 22nd, S. Corbett, and the SE Central Kitchen
Passover Preparation
OU Kosher is offering daily videos to help you prepare for Pesach during these turbulent times. They also have a Passover Toolkit and a Passover Guide.
CCAR Press Passover Resources
The Central Conference of American Rabbis has a list of CCAR Press resources, including ebooks and free flipbooks, to help you celebrate virtually.
Everything You Need to Celebrate Passover During Coronavirus
How are we to prepare with minimal ingredients and limited access to communal resources? How to celebrate the seder alone? How will we celebrate the Festival of Freedom with our movement restricted? Find answers to all this and more at Chabad.org.
Passover Made Easy
PJ Library has created a Passover Hub to find everything you need to know, including a cheat-sheet companion to their own PJ Library Family Haggadah (which you can download for free).
Passover Essentials
The National Jewish Outreach Program has created a Passover Seder Cheat Sheet, videos and 15 short, entertaining webisodes that take you through the essential elements of the Passover Seder.