Independent Jewish Voices London-Liberation Seder, April 28

Independent Jewish Voices, Valleyview Mennonite Church and CPSA present:

London Liberation Seder 2024

Passover is a Jewish holiday commemorating the Exodus from Egypt and freedom from oppression. In recognition that none of us are free until all of us are free, we dedicate this year's Liberation Seder to our shared struggles and uplift Palestinian voices in exile.

The Seder will be lead by Kohenet SandraLaya Ruch of the Jewish Liberation Theology Institute. Venue is wheelchair accessible. This event will be mostly in English, with some Hebrew prayers. A delicious vegetarian dinner will be provided by Pita Pita (Wellington and Southdale). This meal will be gluten free with vegan options. ***Kosher for Passover option available, please select kosher meal at checkout AND contact londonkoshercoop@gmail.com to confirm details.

Venue is wheelchair accessible. This is an alcohol-free event.

6pm- Doors open

6:15- Seder begins (following Jewish Voice for Peace's Liberatory Passover Haggadah)

7:30- Keynote speakers: Past Canadian Palestinian Social Association president, Khalil Al Tarhuni, whose parents are Nakba survivors, will join us for an intergenerational conversation on his family’s exodus story with his daughter Dr. Nehal Al Tarhuni, the current president of CPSA London

8pm- Dinner

8:30- closing of the Seder

From JeLiThIn's website:

Definitions of "Passover" and "Liberation Seder"

We offer the following definitions of "Passover" and "liberation seder": At Passover ("Pesach" in Hebrew), Jewish families celebrate with a ritual family dinner at which the story of the liberation of the ancient Hebrews from oppression in the land of Egypt ("Mitzrayim"), is recited. Seder means "order"—the order of the meal and ritual of Pesach that Jews all over the world have participated in for centuries. It is customary among Jews to invite guests, both Jewish and non-Jewish, to join their Passover celebration.

Our Liberation Seder draws on the legacy of Rabbi Akiva who used the Pesach Seder to plan a revolutionary struggle against the Romans, and of the many Jews in every generation who have used the Seder for political purposes, including the Partisans of the Warsaw Ghetto who began their revolt on the first night of Pesach, not only because the tactical need of the moment, but also because their understanding of the meaning of the Passover story.

As Jews committed to current liberation struggles, we enact this ritual to honor our history of resilience and participation in diverse movements for human emancipation across time. The ritual of the Seder gives us an opportunity to contend not only with legacies of oppression but also with current suffering that we survive, that we perpetrate and in which we are complicit.

Our Seder is dedicated to a free Palestine and the liberation of all peoples.

https://jelithin.ca/seder-2020-london.html

Haggadah: https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/JVP-Haggadah-8.5x11.pdf

Independent Jewish Voices London: https://www.instagram.com/ijvlondon/

CPSA: https://cpsalondon.ca/

People for Peace London: https://www.facebook.com/People4PeaceLdnOnt/