Passover Seders
Searching for a First or Second Night Seder?
This page contains all of the details about the Seders. Use the links below to jump down the page to the section you want to read about first.
Outline of the evening
Time and Place
NEW! Brooklyn Seder
What language?
Is this Seder for you?
How do we keep our price low?
Menu
Make a reservation
Want to Help?
Any Questions?
Testimonials from 2011
Testimonials from 2009
Outline of the evening, in MANHATTAN
Rabbi Judith Hauptman, founder of Ohel Ayalah, and Cantorial Soloist Josh Gorfinkle, will lead. The Seder will take place in the Prince George Ballroom, a magnificent event space on East 27th Street. First time we will be there. Photos to come soon.
Sitting around tables with a spread of veggies, dips, and other snacks, we will delve this year, as we did last year, into a haggadah called A Different Night, The Family Participation Haggadah. You are welcome to take it home when the seder is over. We will read (sometimes in Hebrew and sometimes in English), sing, discuss, and debate. And also shmooze. After dipping into (pun intended!) the haggadah for about two hours, we will be served dinner buffet style (menu below). And after that, Grace, Miriam’s Cup, Hallel, and a lot of singing. The entire event, from beginning to end, will take about four hours.
Time and Place, in MANHATTAN!
The First Night Seder For All Ages will begin at 6:30 pm and end at 10:30. Doors open at 6 p.m.
The Second Night Seder For 20s and 30s will begin at 7 pm and end at 11. Wine-tasting at 6:30 p.m. So come early and spend some time tasting different wines.
LOCATION: Prince George Ballroom, 15 E 27th Street (Manhattan, New York City).
NEW! Brooklyn Seder for families (and tolerant others!)
For the first time, Ohel Ayalah and the Kings Bay Y at Windsor Terrace (www.ywindsorterrace.org) are collaborating on running a Passover seder. It will take place on Friday night April 6, the first night of the holiday, at the Windsor Terrace Y. The seder is reaching out to families with children, but is open to all. It will be led by
Amanda Pogany, an experienced Jewish educator, who will create a traditional yet contemporary seder, one that will meet the needs of both adults and children. This seder will aim to satisfy those who have been going to seders all their lives and also those for whom the seder is new. Children will be able to spend time at the table with their parents and also take a “break” from the seder in the nearby playroom, which will be supervised by adult staff. A great deal for parents of (young) children!
Brooklyn Time and Place:
The seder will begin at 5:30 pm. Doors will open at 5 p.m.
The seder will take place at the Windsor Terrace Y, 1224 Prospect Ave., at Vanderbilt Street, Brooklyn, NY 11218, a one minute walk from the Fort Hamilton station of the F and G trains.
Brooklyn Seder fees:
Adults, $30 p/p;
Children 3-12 years old, $10 per child
Children under 3 who sit on a parent’s lap, no charge.
What language?
If you don’t read Hebrew, not a problem. The haggadah includes the Hebrew text and English translation, and for many segments — songs in particular — it also provides transliteration of the Hebrew. The haggadah is yours to take home.
Is this Seder for you?
The first night Seder in Manhattan is reaching out to people of all ages. This means that you fit the age parameters(!). The second night Seder is only for people in their 20s and 30s. It will begin later and end later.
Price for Seder For All Ages? $40. Price for Second Night Seder for 20s and 30s? $38.
The Brooklyn seder is reaching out to families with children, which means there will be kids running around. But what is a Passover seder without kids?! This seder is also open to all “tolerant” adults.
How do we keep our price low?
Relative to other seders in Manhattan, our price is very low. We are able to keep it that way because many generous sponsors subsidize it. To see a list of our seder donors, click here.
In rough approximation, it costs us $80 p/p to run a seder for which we charge $40 p/p.
If you wish, you can make a donation below.
Menu
The meal will be ample and traditional, but simple rather than gourmet. It will include: gefilte fish, chicken, salad, roasted potatoes, carrot tzimmis, grilled vegetables. Carbonated beverage. A rich (cookie) dessert follows. Matzah unlimited. Wine — the traditional four cups. At the Brooklyn seder there will be a kids’ menu of chicken nuggets, potatoes, and cookies.
All food is kosher for Passover and is from Beth Torah Caterers of Forest Hills, NY. Because of kashrut policies, you may NOT bring any food or drink with you to the seder.
Make a reservation (by paying!)
PLEASE NOTE: The only way to reserve a seat for yourself is to pay. Click on the link below, answer a few (easy) questions, pay, and you will get a confirmation by e/m. No need to bring it with you. We will have a list of all those who registered. If you don’t receive a confirmation, or if you need assistance, please e-mail Coordinator on the Contact Us page.
RESERVATIONS FOR ALL SEDERS ARE NOW CLOSED.
Reserve for Manhattan – First Night Seder »
As of MARCH 31, 10:30 PM, There are no seats left for First Night Seder. Read below about showing up as a walk-in. Link to other community seders also below.
Reserve for Manhattan – Second Night Seder »
April 5, 4 p.m. UPDATE: There are no seats left for the Second Night Seder for 20s and 30s. You can still come as a walk-in and pay at the door. Read below.
Reserve for Brooklyn – First Night Seder for Families »
April 5, 9 p.m., UPDATE: Registration for the Brooklyn seder is now closed.
**To get a reminder to make a reservation, join the Ohel Ayalah e/m list. Fill in your e/m address in the box on upper right column.
AS OF 4 PM ON APRIL 6, WE WILL NOT BE ANSWERING ANY QUERIES, NOT BY E/M AND NOT BY PHONE. CONTACT US AFTER SUNDAY EVENING, APRIL 8. HAPPY PASSOVER!
FAQ’s
Can I pay by credit card if I don’t have a Paypal account? Yes, Paypal accepts cards even from those without accounts.
Can I pay by check? Yes, but your name will be added to the reservation list after we receive the check. We urge you to put your tel. no. or e/m address on the check so that we can tell you it was received and that you have a place at the seder. Make out the check to Ohel Ayalah and mail to: J. Hauptman, JTS, 3080 Broadway, New York, NY 10027. ***For those paying by check, you still need to click on the links above and fill out the reservation form so that we add your name to the reservation list (after we receive the check!). When you finish filling out the form, hit “Sign Up Now.” You will not need to continue to Paypal since you are sending a check.
Can I come to the Manhattan seder as a walk-in? Yes, people are admitted at the door. No walk-ins at the Brooklyn seder. In Manhattan, we will set an entire table for walk-ins (both first and second nights), which means that ten people will surely be admitted at the door. Also, each year there are people with reservations who decide, at the last minute, not to show up. If we find that there are empty seats about 20 min. into the seder, we will accept additional walk-ins at that time. There will be no waitlist. Price will still be $40 p/p on the first night and $38 p/p on the second night. We do not take credit cards at the door. We do accept cash or a check (made out to Ohel Ayalah).
Please bring a current photo ID.
To find other community seders in Manhattan, click here.
Ohel Ayalah is a religious corporation. Payment for the seder is for a “service” and is not, therefore, tax deductible. For your information, the fee covers the cost of the food and wine alone. This is a subsidized seder.
Want to help?
If you wish to make a donation, beyond the $40/$38 fee of the Seder, to help cover the associated costs of renting the venue, paying for kitchen and serving staff, etc., you may do so on the seder reservation form. Alternatively, fill in the amount you’d like to donate and click the button below.
Any questions?
Contact Rabbi Judith Hauptman.
Testimonials from 2011 Seders
These quotations are taken from surveymonkey.
• If it weren’t for the Ohel Ayalah seders, I probably wouldn’t go to any. The rest are just too expensive and not as inviting to new people who don’t know anyone there and are attending alone. Thank you so much for this opportunity!
• We feel that it is similar to attending a family seder which we had in our home for many years while our children were growing up. There is a feeling of warmth and homeyness and we thank the organizers for creating an environment that encourages this. We don’t feel judged, only welcomed.
• Appreciated that you had it for New Yorkers without a place to go
• I liked the joyous spirit, the high level of participation and the singing.
• The rabbi’s energy and enthusiasm was inspiring. The Canter’s powerful voice regally initiated the holiday and melodically captivated the participants during the dinner. Though there were many people it felt like a very intimate family seder. It was well organized and the food was fantastic. The seder book was interesting and a nice surprise. The seating arrangement were perfect. I just loved the experience and look forward to next year.
• Had never been to a community seder before. Very lovely. Thanks!!
• I must thank you so much for the wonderful seder we had with you this past first night of Passover. A remarkable thing happened. It was the first time my 10 year old daughter attended a seder of this kind (and me for that matter!) that delved so deeply. I personally came from a very superficial jewish family so we never read for more than 15 minutes.
• What is most impressive – and fun! – for me is the overall ruach that you create in the way you conduct the seder along with Cantor Josh. There’s a great feeling of community in the room . . .
• Keep on doing what you’re doing – you’ve got it right.
• I loved how warm and friendly the evening was. I was really skeptical because I attended alone but there were some really friendly people at my table and the staff was also very friendly.
• I loved that the seder was explanatory and we all got to participate. I love that it was designed so that we would meet as many new people as possible. I love that we got to have a seder for our own age group (20s and 30s). I love the price! I love that we got to keep the haggadahs.
• It’s a great sense of community, very welcoming, fun, and enjoyable. The rabbi is great.
• I liked meeting new people and having discussions at the table and the haggadah. I really like the wine tasting.
• The festive/entertaining elements like noisemakers and the interesting Haggadot really added a lot. The food and the people were great, but the best element was rotating seats – I came to meet new people and that really helped
• Great to sing songs that I haven’t sung since I was a child. The food was surprisingly good too.
• It was truly lovely. I was in from out of town and felt so welcomed.
• I am grateful to be able to attend a seder like this as I do not have a family seder to go to.
Testimonials fom 2009 Seders
I just want to thank you again for providing a home for my little family for the first night seder. There are so few non Orthodox public seders for the first night. It is really greatly appreciated. Thanks again for all your hard work! - Julia P.
With the experience of the first Seder, I was equipped to lead the second night in a way that encouraged participation from everyone, particularly the kids. It was great being at a Seder where we weren’t “slaves” to the same old rote words while still maintaining the order and all the required sections. - Robert W.
The rabbi runs a wonderful warm seder and makes everyone feel welcome no matter what their age. - Carl A.
The seder at Ohel Ayalah was one of the most meaningful and entertaining seders that I have ever attended. I really enjoyed the friendly and relaxed atmosphere, singing, and interactive discussion. I would definitely come back next year and recommend to my friends! - SG 31 years old
I loved the discussion around the table—we began by being strangers and ended by being friends. - Not named
Very friendly and inviting. Good food and I enjoyed the prayers and singing. I also like the way the tables were set. It was very easy to talk to people. I loved having instruments @ the table so we could really get into the spirit. - Not named
I liked the happy and community feelings. - Not named
I liked that everyone there was in or around my age group. I liked that they tried to get people to get to know each other. I liked that I had a place to go for the 2nd seder when I otherwise wouldn’t have. Also, the price was great. - Not named
It was fantastic. I particularly enjoyed the interactive discussion. I’ve never really participated in anything like this before. The time flew by and I learned a lot about both Passover as well as the people at my table. It was a perfect combination of learning/religion and socializing. The table rotation was great—I really had the chance to meet a lot of new and interesting people. I also very much enjoyed the musical instruments. Finally, I really appreciated the fact that everything was so efficient and well organized! - Not named
As a person who is in the process of converting to Judaism, I was able to understand, have fun, and meet new people. - Not named
Yes, being new in the city, it was very comforting to be in a familiar setting, even with strangers—it felt like family. - Not named