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For Your InspirationMy Pesach Kiruv Experience
My Pesach Kiruv Experience
My Family traveled from Flatbush Brooklyn to the University of Washington campus in Seattle to prepare for and celebrate Pesach with my son-in-law Rabbi Aaron Steinfeld who returned from Yerushalayim 5 months ago (after Succos) to be the new Director of the Jewish Student Experience at UW - University of Washington in Seattle.
The first Seder began later than planned but my son in law Rabbi Aaron Steinfeld bravely endeavored to do justice to a one hour 'magid' and get to the meal by 10:00 PM. There were 1 1/2 dozen University of Washington in Seattle students and 1/2 dozen Klahr guests including my 3 'black hat' unmarried sons. I introduced guests arriving too early for the Seder to start to "Seder 101; the mechanics and symbolism of the 3 matzos and the Karah plate." In addition to the students, we also had a prison chaplain who brought samples of the "Seder in a Box" distributed to incarcerated Jews. The prison chaplain also brought some Jews under his jurisdiction as a parole officer to the Seder.
Rabbi Aaron Steinfeld led the Seder; he distributed the ArtScroll edition Children's illustrated Haggadahs so that everyone can follow; he asked everyone to get a "pouring partner" who fills up their glass with wine or grape juice (or a combo) at the appropriate time. The students paired up and had fun with this new experience. Rabbi Steinfeld's wife and I interjected our comments during any quiet period (while the Rabbi prepared to perform a ritual) or student questions that deviated from the Seder agenda. We all emphasized that the Seder agenda was not merely a story; it is a spiritual experience to elevate the body and soul.
Many of the students were shy; they had not met the other students studying with them at the University of Washington; some had never participated in an Orthodox Seder; my interjected comments broke the ice and smoothed the flow of the Seder agenda. We asked for volunteers to recite the Four Questions in many languages; a Gentile guest recited them in Russian; a Gentile guest on the road to becoming a Ger recited them in Finnish; a Jewish guest recited them in Hebrew and another Jewish guest recited them in very broken Yiddish.
I brought along a "visual aids" for the plagues. The University of Washington students were excited by the 'blood red shmatte'...squeeze bulb jumping frog...plush cows and animals...snakes and spiders...ping pong balls (hail)...dark sunglasses and a sleep-mask (darkness)...
The students were fascinated; while many had other plans for the second Seder they accepted the invitation to come for one or both of the lunchtime Seudas. One student decided to keep "Kosher for Pesach" for all 8 days and joined us for Kosher for Pesach meals with us or took home "meals to go" prepared by my daughter the Rebbeztin.
The second Seder began much later than planned; Rabbi Aaron abandoned the goal of a one hour 'magid' and starting the meal by 10:00 PM. There were 1 1/2 dozen disparate 'new' University of Washington students who were not at the first Seder. Some had attended the Hillel House or family first Seder. The 1/2 dozen Klahr guests were still a 'curiosity' to the University of Washington students, but many students had discussed the Seder with the first Seder attendees. These University of Washington students participated more than the first Seder attendees. The second Seder was almost twice as long as the first Seder.
Rabbi Aaron did not expect guests for the lunchtime Seuda because most students attended their regular classes during the day. To our delight 1/2 dozen University of Washington students attended for all or a portion of the lunchtime Seuda; they were all given "meals to go" prepared by the Rebbeztin. Two of the guests discussed their plans to join a Yeshiva in the fall after their graduation! I was pleased to meet my Seattle PIT Partner in Torah in person when attended the lunch Seuda on the first day of Pesach. It was very hectic, but we were thrilled to show a real Seder service to University of Washington in Seattle students.
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