Faith House 2nd Annual Interfaith Seder took place on March 28 at St. Francis Xavier Church in Manhattan for 150 people and was led by Rabbi David Ingber from Romemu Congregation.  I wrote these tweets during the event, they were all sent out “live” and are comprised of the teachings of Rabbi David, thoughts of people present, and my own impressions. Enjoy! (My Twitter account is @SamirSelmanovic)

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Pesach Sameach, Happy Passover to all of my Jewish friends! Your legacy of freedom loving has blessed the entire world.

Faith House Manhattan Passover Seder for multi-faith crowd is beginning, with singing of niggun, a wordless song of longing…

… “We give thanks for the liberation of days gone by. And we pray for all who are still bound.” …

… First commandment to Jews was about the moon. Freedom and redemption comes first from reclaiming TIME …

… this is Festival of Freedom, we wash each others hands to give up what we clutch, and then raise them with gratitude …

… consider where your hands have been last year, what you used them for to gain, letting others wash is an act of trust …

… Passover is not about passing over but about passing thru, we are blessing bitter herb, a symbol of renewal, new birth …

… We dip herb into salty water, a symbol of our tears, then we eat it …

… matzo is unleavened bread, is not puffed up, our soul does not need additives, faith is simple, “unless you are a child …” …

… matzo is broken as each of us is broken, Rabbi says “we can see Christ in all places” (so gracious, to mention Christ, made me tear up) …

… In Hebrew Land of Egypt, Mitzraim, means ‘constricted place’ where regime does not allow you to ask questions, no asking ‘Why?’…

… what are other subversive questions we need to air in this constricted place (here, everyone speaks up) …

… we tend to deny we are captives, we play wise, we play dejected, and we play naive, but we have hard time facing our bondage …

… story in 7 short chapters: security, otherness, burning, mandate, escape, mourning, liberation …

… modern days Pharaohs: consumption, prejudice, corporate thugs, resentment, indifference, military self-perpetuation, entitlement, apathy..

… little known: four fifths of Jewish people stayed and died in Egypt, we don’t want to make steps to freedom …

… big part of Passover is grieving for Egyptian people as one’s own family, grieving that suffering is a part of our stories of freedom …

… the thing that scares you the most has a secret of your life and a key, that’s why blood went to the doorposts …

… by blessing the bread we bless every thing and every one that gives us sustenance …

… we are eating bitter and sweeter together between matzo bread, life is a bitter-sweet sandwich …

… Let the freedom ring!

All photos by Carlos Martín