On Tuesday afternoon, April 19, more than 120 Holocaust survivors and their families, as well as Jewish community leaders, gathered for a pre-Passover “symbolic” seder at the Mandell JCC in West Hartford. “JFS is so pleased to bring together all the organizations who work with survivors throughout our community,” said JFS Executive Director Anne Danaher. “It is a very meaningful way for all organizations to recognize survivors as we prepare to celebrate Passover.”

Led by Rabbi Philip Lazowski, rabbi emeritus of Beth Hillel Synagogue in Bloomfield, and Professor Avinoam Patt of the University of Hartford’s Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies, the program included the participation of students from JT Connect, Hebrew High School of New England, Bess and Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy and Solomon Schechter Day School.

“Passover is the holiday when we reflect both on the meaning of slavery and freedom, and the responsibility of each generation to make sure that memory from our collective past is continued into the future,” explained Patt. “The symbolic seder for Holocaust survivors is an incredibly poignant way to reflect on the meaning of such obligations as we enter the Passover season.”

CAP: Anne Danaher, Jewish Community Foundation CEO Michael Johnston, Rabbi Philip Lazowski, Prof. Avi Patt, event co-chair Gayle Temkin, Alan Lazowski, and Mandell JCC Executive Director David Jacobs.