Jewish communities to mark Passover with tradition, Seders and worry

Jewish communities worldwide will gather this weekend for a Passover marked by memory, tradition — and unease.

The eight-day festival, which starts at sundown Saturday, commemorates Jews’ biblical exodus from slavery in Egypt. It is often celebrated with a family meal called a Seder, where participants retell the story of deliverance and eat symbolic foods, including matzo, the unleavened bread of haste.

But this year, the holiday unfolds amid the ongoing war in Gaza, political division and a sharp increase in antisemitic threats worldwide.

In Israel, many Seder tables are expected to include empty seats in honor of those killed or kidnapped in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack. About 1,200 Israelis were killed in the raid, and dozens of hostages remain held in Gaza. A new cease-fire deal remains elusive.

In the U.S., Jewish institutions are on alert. The Secure Community Network has issued warnings about possible threats from White supremacist groups, particularly around April 20 — which marks both the final day of Passover and Adolf Hitler’s birthday.

Federal authorities also have responded to what the Anti-Defamation League says is the highest recorded number of antisemitic incidents in a single year, with more than 10,000 reported since October 2023.

On college campuses, pro-Palestinian protests have quieted somewhat, which some credit to increased federal pressure under the Trump administration. The Education Department has moved to enforce Title VI protections more strictly in response to antisemitic speech.

“This year we’ve seen a real shift,” said Rabbi Moshe Hauer of the Orthodox Union, according to The Associated Press. “University leaders are being held accountable in a way they weren’t before.”

But others see the policy as politically motivated. “It’s about gutting education under the guise of protecting Jews,” Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, told the AP.

Still, many are finding ways to mark the holiday with renewed purpose. In Los Angeles, a special Seder will bring together interfaith leaders and those affected by the recent wildfires. Other cities, including Dallas, New York and Milwaukee, are organizing similar gatherings.

The Met Council, a Jewish nonprofit, is distributing kosher-for-Passover food to more than 250,000 people across four states. And in New York City, Chabad’s “Mitzvah Tank” RVs will parade through the streets distributing matzo and prayer materials.