Wednesday, April 1, 7:30 pm
2 For Seder launched the expansion of its highly successful first-year campaign to combat anti-Semitism in February. Today, with the concerns surrounding the novel coronavirus, and new CDC guidelines for social gatherings, 2 for Seder is pivoting in a new direction.
With a growing number of organizations being established to fight anti-Semitism, 2 for Seder empowers individuals to take direct, positive action against hate. Last year, the organization encouraged North American Jews to invite two people of another faith to their first Seder, either at home or in the community, giving guests an authentic Jewish experience from which to learn and build bridges. More than 200 partners, including the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee more than 25 Jewish Federations and more than 40 Jewish Community Centers, helped spread the organization’s message.
Marnie Fienberg created 2 for Seder in memory of her mother-in-law, Joyce Fienberg, one of 11 murdered while praying at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. The program was inspired by the Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, encouraging individuals to take direct action in their community. In its first year, almost 1,000 seders across 45 states and five Canadian provinces, participated.
“I know what it’s like to feel powerless in the face of anti-Semitism, but Americans are stronger than hate when we learn from each other,” says Marnie Fienberg. “Either at home or at public seders, every Passover each of us has an opportunity to open doors and build bridges in our own neighborhood. This positive, unique first authentic Jewish experience provides individuals of other faiths and heritages with the facts to make their own decisions against stereotypes and tropes. We are truly stronger together.”
Passover 2020 will look different for most. Those who are used to sitting with a large group of friends or family members at a seder will be looking for a new way to stay connected. 2 for Seder is offering a solution—an interactive virtual seder.
Fienberg will join the Tidewater community virtually as a part of the Milton “Mickey” Kramer Scholar-in-Residence Fund of the Congregation Beth El Foundation’s Tidewater Together Series. Join the webinar, Darchei Shalom: Building Paths of Peace, to learn more about how to build virtual paths between friends and family this Passover. The conversation will also include a discussion about how to fight hate on an individual level. Register by visiting jewishva.org/tidewatertogether or contact Sierra Lautman, director of Jewish Innovation, at slautman@ujft.org or 757-965-6107.
The Milton “Mickey” Kramer Scholar-in-Residence Fund of the Congregation Beth El Foundation’s Tidewater Together series is a collaboration between the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and area synagogues to provide opportunities to connect Jewishly on a variety of topics, offering something for everyone.