Passover Seder Celebrated in Unlikely Places Amid Pro-Palestinian Protests
On the first night of Passover, the traditional singsong of the Four Questions was heard not only in Jewish homes but also in unexpected places like the center of pro-Palestinian protests at universities across the United States.
At Columbia University, about 100 students and faculty gathered in a circle around a makeshift Seder table, complete with boxes of matzo and kosher food. Some wore kaffiyehs, the Palestinian scarf, while others donned Jewish skullcaps. They read prayers in Hebrew and distributed handmade Haggadahs, but with a twist – a watermelon on the Seder plate to symbolize the flag of Palestine.
Similar scenes played out at other universities, where Jewish students and pro-Palestinian activists came together to celebrate Passover in solidarity with the Palestinian people. At Yale University, students gathered for a Seder after a day of protests calling for divestment from weapons manufacturers.
Miriam Levine, a Yale student who helped organize the Seder, emphasized the connection between Judaism and support for Palestine, stating, “Tonight we stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, not in spite of our Judaism, but because of it.”
Meanwhile, at Chabad Columbia, a more traditional Passover celebration took place, providing a sense of community and connection for students amidst campus tensions. Rabbi Yuda Drizin welcomed over 100 students to the Seder, emphasizing the importance of coming together as a Jewish family.
As Passover was celebrated in diverse ways across university campuses, the message of unity and solidarity rang loud and clear, bridging divides and bringing people together in a time of reflection and remembrance.
