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Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Syracuse Hillel’s annual Passover Seder was always held at the JMA Wireless Dome. After four years, the celebration was back in its original space on Monday evening, when Syracuse University students and community members celebrated the first night of Passover on the Dome field.

“The Dome is such a full circle space,” said Kayla Kriegel, SU senior and the co-chair of Passover at Hillel. “When you are a freshman, you have convocation in the Dome. When you’re a senior, you have commencement in the Dome. Having Passover be one of the big moments recognized in the Dome is so amazing.”

Syracuse Hillel Passover in the Dome offers students, faculty and Syracuse residents a chance to celebrate the first night of Passover, commemorating the freedom of Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. This year’s annual Seder feast was the largest SU has ever hosted, Kriegel said in her opening remarks.

More than 750 SU students and community members filled the Dome. After 2020, the celebration took place in Schine’s Goldstein Auditorium, which was not able to hold as many people, Kriegel said.

“Being able to come together to celebrate Passover with everyone I love here is so exciting,” Kriegel said. “I know that being away from home for the first time can be difficult for new students, and having this be their first Passover on campus is so special.”

Rabbi Ethan Bair, who joined Syracuse Hillel in 2022, led the Seder. He began the event by acknowledging the Oct. 7 attack in Israel, which marked the “biggest attack against Jewish people since the Holocaust,” Bair said. He led a prayer for everyone affected by the war, particularly for the 133 current Israeli hostages.

Gavi Sela, a sophomore at SU and the co-chair of Chabat at Hillel performed the Kiddush, a blessing over wine. He said this year, especially, it is important for Jewish people to gather to celebrate Passover.

“We are here to remember a time when we exited slavery and entered redemption,” Sela said. “We have to remember that we must go through hard times in life and that there are challenging things that come even after being freed, but we have to carry on.”

Joe Zhao | Assistant Photo Editor

The event serves traditional Passover fare to the attendees.

Some students sat with friends or organization members while others sat alongside strangers. During the ritual, the crowd engaged in discussion questions to get to know each other, which included telling a story about overcoming a difficult situation and exchanging family Passover traditions.

Averie Cohen, a fifth-year architecture student, said she appreciates the opportunity that Hillel provides to gather with other Jewish students on campus.

“It is such a great way for people to connect with each other on a different level, outside of class,” Cohen said. “We are all here because of our religious background, and events like this are such a great way for people to find each other.”

Syracuse Hillel is also hosting a second-night Seder on April 23 at 6 p.m. in the Hillel building. Hillel is also serving Kosher food for Passover in its building all week long, which students can purchase through their SU meal swipes.

As a senior, Kriegel said she is grateful to have served in planning this year’s Seder. She hopes younger students find a family through the organization as she has over the past four years.

“Hillel has been one of my homes at SU,” she said. “It has been there for me through my highest and lowest points throughout my time here. It has been an honor and privilege to be able to bring everyone together for this event.”

Published on April 22, 2024 at 10:04 pm