Zoom Seder

Can I do a Zoom seder? The answer is yes. The real question is how!

Whatever you decide, it is important to find ways to connect before and after the seder. Simply setting up times to cook favorite family recipes together through Zoom or while talking on the phone will help people feel less lonely. Make time in the next few days and during Pesach to call people to let them know you are thinking of them. Bring your own matza and beverage of your choice to CSAIR’s Hol Hamoed Pesach Celebration on Sunday, April 12th at 4:30 PM.

For those who prefer not to use electricity or technology on holidays, there are several approaches. I list some of them below and share my own view at the end.

Seder on Pesach-Zoom Set Up In Advance If you or someone you love is in physical or psychological danger because of the isolation at this unique time, the CJLS (the Conservative Movement’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards) has ruled that using Zoom on for Seder (only when set up in advance) is permissible. There are certain guidelines about how to do it to minimize infractions of Jewish law. Please note that this is not an official responsum of the Committee for Jewish Law and Standards. HERE is the full text of their opinion. A variation on this approach suggested by Rabbi David Golinkin is just let it run. You can read the various options he suggests HERE.

Second Night Seder Rabbis Tucker and Richman offer another possibility:

The second day of Yom Tov is considerably more lenient when it comes to those experiencing even a light form of distress. If a Seder is going to be conducted over Zoom, it is our preference that it be the second Seder—even though this means activating the computer on the second day of Yom Tov itself—than to bring the many complications of video conferencing into the first day of Yom Tov, which has a biblical status. We prefer a formulation of being lenient on the second day for those who are vulnerable and in mental distress than to pretend that setting up a screen on autopilot is not meaningfully infringing on the sanctity of the first day of Yom Tov. HERE is the full text of their opinion.

Starting First Night Seder Early While I appreciate the approach of the CJLS, many people will find it hard to do it exactly as they suggest to minimize tinkering with Zoom. In addition, for some people using technology on the holiday will decrease the feeling of normalcy that they crave at this time of chaos. My approach will be to start my seder early on the first night to include relatives in other places.

While Seder means order, this year, my seder will be out of order. My plan is to have most of my Seder preparation done early and to set up a Zoom Seder with family around the world at 6:00 PM. This year, Passover does not officially begin in the Bronx until 7:10 pm so that gives us an hour to read parts of the (exact schedule below) out loud, share jokes and divrei . At 7:10, we offer blessings to each other for the holiday, close zoom and light candles. Until nightfall, 8:10 we will talk about the meaning of Pesach this year. Then at 8:10 we will complete the seder, eat, and then do a few of the concluding things we did not do earlier. Some people might choose to read through the whole haggadah. Others may choose to do the parts that are statutory/traditional for after nightfall. Below is one version of what this can look like. Some of the core parts of the seder are included in both the pre-holiday and holiday sections so that, despite all the ways this night will be different, each has a sense of seder, order and integrity.

6:00-7:10 7:10-8:10 8:10…

Song: Complete preparation for the holiday /Shehechianu Kadesh...Urchatz...

Mah Nishtana Commentary on Arami Oved Avi (50, Urchatz, , Yachatz 200, 250 plagues)

Avadim Hayinu Discussion of what Pesach means this Ha Lachma year and what we will be thinking when we say “Next Year in Jerusalem!”

Four Children Mah Nishtana

Rabbis of Bnai Avadim Hayinu Brak/Ben Zoma

V’hee SheAmda Rav’s story (Mee-techila…)

Arami Oved Avi Vhee SheAmdah

Dayyenu Arami Oved Avi (just the verses and some discussion)

Hallel Plagues and Dayyenu

Pesach, Matzah, Pesach, Matzah, Maror

Eliyahu HaNavi B’chol Dor Vador

Adir Hu Hallel and Second Cup

Echad Mi Yodea Wash, Matza, Maror, Korech

Chad Gadya Meal and

Other Passover Songs Birkat HaMazon and Third Cup

Kos Eliyahu/Shfoch Hamatcha

Hallel and Blessing

Fourth Cup and Blessings, Nirtzah

(Second night- count omer)

Hag Kasher v’Sameach-

Rabbi Barry Dov Katz