Celebrating Passover with the Friendship Circle Family

Passover is a beautiful celebration of family and traditions. This year, the holiday was observed from April 12-20. All around the world, Seder tables were filled with family and friends enjoying a feast which centers on telling the story of the Jewish people’s miraculous exodus from Egyptian slavery. Leading up to the holiday, Friendship Circle hosted a variety of meaningful and interactive events to celebrate.

To ensure the community was well prepared for Passover, 2,000 boxes of traditional, handmade shmurah matzah were distributed to homes in Livingston and beyond. Shmurah matzah undergoes a strict regimen, with all the ingredients carefully guarded and inspected throughout the baking process. This special process makes shmurah matzah a Seder necessity, with an added infusion of faith and sanctity. The deliveries delighted all the recipients who couldn’t wait to add the box to their Seder table.

In addition, Friendship Circle distributed 160 Seder-to-go kits, which included all the necessary items for a Seder such as grape juice, matzah, and the Seder plate items. The festive kits gave families everything they needed for a meaningful Seder, bringing joy and tradition into many homes.

To get the children into the Passover spirit, on Sunday, April 6, Friendship Circle hosted a lively and fun-filled Passover Experience event. Participants were fascinated by a model matzah bakery. All who attended eagerly helped grind wheat into flour and roll the dough before watching Rabbi Yisroel Rosenblum bake the matzah in a special oven. Participants also made arts and crafts and joyfully played with friends at the indoor playground.

“We celebrate as a family at home, but it’s nice to celebrate with our other LifeTown family here,” said Rebecca Malinsky, who attended the event with her daughter, Molly.

The festivities were such a hit that Friendship Circle spread the excitement throughout the community. Rabbi Rosenblum brought the model matzah bakery to several Jewish schools and senior centers during the week prior to Passover. Children and seniors enthusiastically learned about the process.

“The kids love the hands-on element,” said Rabbi Rosenblum. “It makes Passover real to them and makes it something they look forward to.”

Friendship Circle’s adult participants also got in on the fun during the week before Passover, engaging in a variety of holiday activities. Alongside baking matzah, participants also crafted beautiful wooden planters to grow parsley for Seder plates.

“I love celebrating Passover at LifeTown,” said Jeffrey.

“There’s no better way to kick off Passover than at LifeTown,” said Rochelle Baron, Jeffrey’s volunteer helper. “Everyone’s involved.”

Friendship Circle is truly a second home to all participants, creating a sense of community and family. As families gathered around their Seder tables, the love, connection, and joy sparked at Friendship Circle continued to shine—making this Passover truly unforgettable.