Overview
- Passover Seders, which began Wednesday evening, are proceeding under stepped-up protection at synagogues and community centers after recent threats and attacks.
- In Canada, officials announced an extra $10 million for Jewish community security after three Toronto-area synagogues were struck by gunfire in March, and local groups are coordinating with police and private firms.
- In Israel, recent missile salvos and rocket fire have pushed families into shelters and led authorities to curb large gatherings and close sites that lack adequate protection.
- Rabbis and educators emphasize the Seder’s core role as a conversation between generations, using children’s questions to pass on history, identity and resilience.
- Key rituals include removing leavened foods, eating matzah, and reading the Haggadah at the table, and surveys indicate that more than 70% of American Jews take part in a Seder.