Feminist Passover a National Phenomenon

What originated by Ma'yan: The Jewish Women's Project of The Jewish Community Center (JCC) on the Upper West Side as strictly a New York event for Jewish women has become a national phenomenon. This year, more than 50 groups across the country in cities, such as Dallas, Louisville, Charleston, Peori, Rochester, Kansas City, Atlanta, Washington DC, and Birmingham, will replicate the Ma'yan model and host feminist communal seders. Over 2,000 women will sing, dance with tambourines and read from Ma'yan's new and expanded Haggadah The Journey Continues, at the special pre-Passover seders held on April 9, 10, 11 and 12 at Bridgewater's, 11 Fulton Street in the South Street Seaport.

"The annual women's seders keep growing exponentially because they provide spiritual uplift and religious authenticity within the warm, wide embrace of feminist community. The Ma'yan miracle never ceases to amaze," comments Letty Cottin Pogrebin, author of Deborah, Golda, and Me: Being Female & Jewish in America. The popularity of the seders reflects the desire of many women to have a voice in the Passover celebration, which is more than their traditional roles as seder cooks and passive attendees.

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