Issue date: 4/3/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Hemali Tanna [Click to enlarge]

Passover celebrates the Exodus of Jewish slaves from Egypt. To educate the Aggie community, Texas A&M Hillel Foundation will have a Passover workshop and Chocolate Seder to raise awareness of the Jewish holiday.

"Every year we have students wondering about Passover and its significance," said Carlie Dorshaw, director of programs and development, "and the students here in the Hillel felt like this would be a fun and educational way to promote cultural diversity here in A&M."

All students and staff are invited to this event, no matter what religion they are. "We have invited all the churches on the Campus Ministry Association to come out and celebrate this occasion and we will receive everyone with open doors," said Dorshaw, Class of 2008.

The Passover workshop will consist of organized programs that will help non-Jewish students understand the origin and meaning of the holiday. One of its features will be the use of a Chocolate Seder to help attendees understand the deep meaning of the various customs of a regular Seder.

A Seder is a ritual feast celebrated on the first two days of Passover. The Seder is a crucial aspect of the Jewish religion because it centers on the liberation of the Jewish slaves.

A traditional Seder is full of ancient customs.

"One of the customs calls for the eating of bitter herbs to represent the slavery the Jewish people endured," Dorshaw said. "So attendees will eat bitter tasting chocolate instead."

The Seder is only the beginning of the eight-day celebration.

"Ultimately, we want students to understand that Passover is about celebrating the freedom of the Jewish people," Dorshaw said.

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