Virtual seders can help you feel connected in a time of social distancing. Image by iStock

By Irene Katz Connelly April 7, 2020

So you didn’t organize a virtual seder to bring together friends and family across the country. You were too busy adapting to your new role as full-time home-schooler to brainstorm thoughtful discussion questions about the relationship between our current predicament and the Passover story. You didn’t cobble together a quirky haggadah because the only thing you can concentrate on is your Twitter feed. And you’re not making bubbe’s traditional charoset because going to the grocery store just doesn’t seem worth it.

For many, even the prospect of organizing any kind of gathering is exhausting right now. But thanks to a proliferation of online Passover offerings, you don’t have to. If you’re looking for a low-effort way to observe Passover this year, one of these virtual seders will fit your needs.

JewBelong’s Seder for Jews and those who love them

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Tune this upbeat, judgment-free seder from an organization that caters to those who feel alienated from traditional Jewish institutions, whether they grew up non-observant and can’t read Hebrew or are looking for a space where their non-Jewish spouse can feel at home. The seder will be led by a colorful cast of Jewish and Jewish-adjacent personalities, from Senator Cory Booker to director David Simon.

Seder offerings from the Marlene Meyerson JCC

This JCC has three seders planned for the first two nights of Passover. There’s a seder for families with school-age children that focuses on storytelling and song, a queer seder that connects the struggles of the past to social justice issues today, and an Israeli-style seder featuring Hebrew songs and games.

Lab/Shul’s Sayder LIVE!

Rabbi Amichai of this “everybody friendly, God-optional” synagogue will lead a seder from his home alongside a panel of multifaith guests and Israeli singer-songwriter David Broza. It’s rated “PG-13,” so be ready for a spicy new spin on traditional rituals.

Community Seder at the 92Y

This storied Jewish cultural institution isn’t letting social distancing get in the way of Passover. 92Y’s seder will be led by up-and-coming Jewish educators Rabbi Samantha Frank and Rebecca Schoffer. If you’re not completely comfortable with video-conferencing, this seder might be a good pick — you can email the 92Y team for help setting up Zoom.

Haggadot.com’s Virtual Seder

This make-your-own haggadah website is a fan favorite of seder hosts. But for those of us who prefer to be seder guests, here’s a virtual seder free for all to join. Scheduled for April 12, this is a perfect event for those who want to unplug for the first days of the holiday and join a communal gathering later.

Irene Katz Connelly is an editorial fellow at the Forward. You can contact her at [email protected].

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