This year, the Jews of Ukraine will celebrate one of their most important religious holidays exclusively at home, without visiting a synagogue. This is due to the spread of coronavirus and quarantine.
This year, the Jews of Ukraine will celebrate one of their most important religious holidays exclusively at home, without visiting a synagogue. This is due to the spread of coronavirus and quarantine.
The Chairman of the Jewish community, Rabbi Bahmut Haim Dubrov, told Vilne radio about this.
This year, Passover will be celebrated from April 8 to 16. But for a week, since March 18, due to “the danger to life that COVID-19 carries, many synagogues in the country have temporarily stopped joint prayers. Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Reuven Asman broadcasts services from his page in the social network.
"Passover outside of Israel is celebrated for 8 days. This is one of the most important holidays, it is described in the Torah (the religious book of the Jews, — ed.) — the holiday of the Jews' exit from Egypt, where they were in slavery for a very long time. The first-second and seventh-eighth days are holidays. On these days, it is not allowed to turn on the TV, so I think the Jews will spend these days in peace and quiet with their family. That constant news about the pandemic will cease and we will have some rest from this,” explains Rabbi of Bakhmut.
Passover is celebrated in a joyful atmosphere, paying great attention to the festive meal - Seder, which begins the holiday. On the last day of the celebration, synagogues hold a ceremony of " dividing the waters of the sea” in memory of the passage of the red sea by Jews.
Therefore, the Jewish community began to prepare for the celebration of Passover under strict quarantine, because religious Jews must adhere to strict kosher rules. For example, one of the necessary attributes of the holiday is matzah - cakes made of dough without yeast. The united Jewish community of Ukraine distributed 30 thousand kilograms of matzah for free to all Jewish communities of Ukraine before Passover. The Jewish community of Bakhmut has already received its share, but Chaim Dubrav has not yet decided how to distribute it under quarantine.
The wife of Rabbi Fradl Vyshedsky from the Donetsk Jewish community has compiled a detailed checklist for preparing for the Jewish holiday of Passover. This online guide for Jewish women contains a detailed food purchase plan, proven recipes, and stories about traditions.