Interfaith Passover Seder Feeds An Appetite For Community

By Eliza Hallabeck

Residents of various faiths gathered inside Congregation Adath Israel on Sunday, April 10, for the first Newtown Interfaith Passover Seder in memory.

Sandy Hook resident Donna Monteleone-Randle coordinated the event and greeted participants at the door as they entered.

Susan Rubin of Congregation Adath Israel said just over 140 people attended the event.

“We had a lot of people, and everybody seemed to have a good time,” said Ms Rubin. “It was nice to do something like that.”

Joining Rabbi Shaul Praver

 of Congregation Adath Israel to lead the service were Reverend Kathleen Adams-Shepherd, pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church; Monsignor Robert Weiss, pastor of St Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church; Reverend Mel Kawakami, Newtown United Methodist Church; Reverend Matthew Crebbin, Newtown Congregational Church; and Reverend Leo McIlrath, coordinator of Corpus Christi: An Ecumenical Catholic Faith Community as well as the ecumenical chaplain at The Lutheran Home of Southbury. A donation of $5 per person was requested for the Seder. Once the costs of the event were covered, all proceeds will be donated to FAITH Food Pantry in Sandy Hook.

Volunteers from the participating local houses of worship secured donations from grocery stores and other vendors.

“It was a group effort from everyone involved,” said Ms Rubin.

Ms Randle has said she addressed the town’s collected clergy members this past fall on an idea of holding an interfaith Seder. 

“They couldn’t answer me at the time, it was just an idea thrown at them, but I had clergy approach me at different times since then showing an interest in that idea,” Ms Randle explained prior to the Interfaith Passover Seder.

During the event, as participants sat at tables covered with plates of food, Rabbi Praver explained the significance of each food in the traditional meal.

After the event’s success on Sunday, Ms Rubin said discussion is occuring regarding holding the event annually, either at Congregation Adath Israel or at different facilities each year.