Passover, the major Jewish spring festival commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, begins on Wednesday night. The first and second nights will be celebrated by the Jewish Center of the Hamptons in East Hampton via Zoom, the videoconferencing app, with communal Seders starting at 5 p.m. sharp. Temple Adas Israel in Sag Harbor will hold its online Seder on the second night, Thursday, beginning promptly at 6.
Everyone must be signed on in order to take part. Registration ahead of time with Adas Israel is through Rabbi Daniel Geffen, who will lead the service, at [email protected]. Those who have registered will receive login information by email.
At the Jewish Center, Cantor-Rabbi Debra Stein will conduct the first Seder; Rabbi Josh Franklin will lead services on the second night, April 9. For congregants with young children, Rabbi Franklin’s Seder will be especially “child-friendly,” according to the temple. Registration is at jcoh.org/passover, with online Haggadahs, which tell the story of the Exodus, available.
There will be no online Passover services at Chabad of the Hamptons in East Hampton. According to its website, Jewish holidays “are a blessed respite from all digital connectivity.” Congregants are advised to celebrate the first and second nights of Passover, but only with those in their immediate household.