Pesach Resources

1. JCORE - Four supplementary questions on asylum seekers and refugees in Britain

2. African Refugee Development Centre - haggadah raising awareness of the 20,000 asylum seekers from Eritrea, Sudan and other northern African countries have had the same experience making their own journeys to Israel, fleeing from violent conflict, persecution and civil war.

3. Pesach message from the Chief Rabbi

4. Two opportunities to make a difference for those in Israel for Pesach

5. Pesach recipes - forget the pacakaged cakes, impress your family and friends with these lovely desserts (which are also free of nuts)!

6. Resources and Reflections for your seder from Tzedek

7. A basic introduction to Pesach and seder night

8. Buy a copy of the UJS haggadah for just £1 (to cover postage and packaging!)

9. And now for something totally random...

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1. JCORE The Seder provides us with a good opportunity to think about not only what the Exodus story means for Jews, but also about contemporary injustice, such as the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees in Britain today. As a contribution to this year's festival, JCORE (the Jewish Council for Racial Equality) has produced four supplementary questions (and some answers). We hope you will find these a valuable addition to your Seder. See http://www.jcore.org.uk/seder.php to read the resources.

2. African Refugee Development Centre Pesach is a time when we remember our journey as Jews, through the desert and into Israel, escaping slavery and oppression in Egypt. 20,000 asylum seekers from Eritrea, Sudan and other northern African countries have had the same experience making their own journeys to Israel, fleeing from violent conflict, persecution and civil war. In Israel there is no clear asylum seekers legislation. When people arrive they are typically sent to a detention centre and then left without further help in the centres of Tel Aviv or Be'er Sheva, even unaccompanied minors and pregnant women

The ARDC (African Refugee Development Centre) is an organization that helps the refugee community in Israel. It offers shelter to the most vulnerable, provides food and other basic resources, assists asylum seekers in their applications for visas and refugee status and runs English and Hebrew classes.

The ARDC, along with other refugee and Israeli organizations, is running a communal Pesach Seder on 25th March for 200 refugees and 200 Israelis. There will be creative performances, opportunities for shared learning and an alternative seder meal where the themes of freedom and journeys are given a more modern and universal meaning. This event has been very successful in past years, unifying two very different communities and highlighting the plight of a people that needs more recognition and attention in Israel.

Raising awareness is very important as this is an issue that is far too often overlooked. The ARDC and its partner organisations in this project are offering a resource to aid in this- an alternative hagaddah that will be available to download free from the internet at: http://www.ardc-israel.org/en/articles/4

3. A Pesach message from the Chief Rabbi http://www.chiefrabbi.org/GetVideo1620.aspx

4. Two opportunities to make a difference for those in Israel for Pesach

A) Half-Day Jerusalem Experience with a Difference:

• VIP tour of the Kotel Tunnels and the latest excavations
• Private Lunch and exclusive briefing on issues facing the Western Wall and Israel's Holy Sites
• Aleh Jerusalem tour, visit Israel's world-class facility caring for severely disabled children.

Wednesday 7 April 2010, 10am - 2pm

(Suggested donation of 200 NIS per participant to cover expenses)

B) Volunteer at Aleh

Help us care for Israel's disabled children and young adults, sure to be an unforgettable experience.

All you need to bring along is your friendly smile and loving heart.

For more information or to register please email: yoni@aleh.org or call +972 (0)52 653 8324

Aleh provides 650 severely disabled children & young adults in Israel with high-level medical and rehabilitative care in four residential facilities. Aleh is their home and family - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

5. Pesach recipes, with thanks to Lynne Fertleman Click on the download button at the top of this page to reveal the recipes!

6. Resources and Reflections for your seder from Tzedek, the Jewish International Development charity: http://www.tzedek.org.uk/file/Resources%20&%20Reflections%20for%20your%20Seder.pdf

7. A basic introduction to Pesach: www.jewfaq.org/holidaya and an introduction to the seder: www.jewfaq.org/seder

8. In addition, we have a number of UJS Haggadot available for just £1 (to cover postage and packaging), click here to order one!

9. And now for something totally random: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bgeX_8tBCY&feature=player_embedded