Passover Possibilities… Michael-Ann Russell JCC offers a variety of Holiday Happenings!

March 8, 2013 - PRLog -- The Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center located on the Sanford L. Ziff Campus, will offer a variety of Holiday Happenings during this year’s Passover Celebration, including a “Meet The Author” Jewish Book Review, A Chocolate Seder, a Multi-generational Seder, and an Early Childhood Exodus presentation.

The Meet The Author program, presented under the umbrella of the Michael-Ann Russell JCC’s Rabbi Norman Mussman Cultural Arts Department, is a free series that features authors of Jewish interest who showcase their book in a ‘meet  & greet’ style presentation. “This presentation is a wonderful way for Jewish Book Connoisseurs to meet authors in a intimate and relaxed setting,” explains David Surowitz, Series Coordinator. On Monday, March 18, at 7pm, Rabbi Maurice D. Harris will discuss his book, Moses: A Stranger Among Us, at Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus.

A Chocolate Seder is just as it sounds; every component of the Seder is made of, comprised of, and related to chocolate. Geared toward kids ages 7 to 14, as part of the After School Program at the MAR-JCC, this tasty tale of the Passover story has been presented for nearly 8 years. From a Cadbury Egg, representing ‘spring’ to green m&m’s representing ‘parsley’ to chocolate pudding, representing ‘haroset’, every aspect of the Seder Table is derived from chocolate. “By introducing chocolate into the story, children not only get to indulge in their favorite treat, they actually listen more, learn more, and retain more of the information and order of events that occurred in the story,” explains ASP Director, Neal Buchholz.

The Multigenerational Seder takes another spin on the traditional Seder meal, by inviting members of the MAR-JCC’s Senior Adult Department, who join together with National Honor Society Students from Hillel Day School for a sit-down Passover Luncheon. On Tuesday, March 20, at 11am, two generations will share the traditions of Passover with stories, songs, and an abridged reading of the Passover Hagadah.

Finally, on Thursday, March 21, at 9:15am, the youngest members of the Michael-Ann Russell JCC will take their shot at showmanship, as the students of the Sandra and Lawrence Bronson Early Childhood Department present their annual Passover Exodus. The story of Passover is presented in song, colorful costumes, and charming chatter as each age-group and classroom, parade into the gymnasium while envisioning themselves walking across the desert with Moses leading the way. Passover murals, hand painted by the students, sets the small stage this wonderful presentation.