Ninety 90 people of diverse ages and backgrounds gathered on April 2 at the Pleasantville Community Synagogue and Neighbors Link at Grace Episcopal Church in Ossining for an immigration-themed Passover seder led by Rabbi Shoshana Leis and Rabbi Ben Newman.
Rabbi Leis opened the evening by welcoming all with the seder’s theme of “Walking Towards Freedom Together” and speaking about our responsibilities to each other as neighbors. Leis introduced featured speaker Cesar Zepeda, development officer at Neighbors Link, who shared stories of local immigrants’ struggles and successes.
Seder participants reflected on their own families’ journeys while thinking about immigrant neighbors and reflecting on Zepeda’s narratives and the broader immigrant experience.
The evening’s music included a blend of traditional and contemporary melodies led by Rabbi Ben Newman. Wonderful Passover food was served by Falafel-Taco of Pleasantville, alongside delicious homecooked food from participants.
To add to the rich mosaic of this seder, PCS congregant David Benattar, a French Moroccan, Israeli-American, held the seder plate over each participant’s head while chanting a traditional Jewish Moroccan Passover song of “blessing, protection, freedom & good health”—underscoring the belief that “every human being is created in the image of God, and we have to be humble and show compassion to everyone.”
The evening concluded with Rabbi Leis and Cesar Zepeda speaking about how to support Neighbors Link and advocate for passage of the New York for All Act.
For information, contact:
Kate Graves-Abe, Neighbors Link: (914) 752-4660
Rabbi Shoshana Leis, Pleasantville Community Synagogue: (914) 409-3090
This program, sponsored by the Pleasantville Community Synagogue, was made possible by the UJA Federation of New York and contributions from program participants. Any profits from the event were donated to Neighbors Link.
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