Dear Barnard Community,
The Jewish holiday of Passover, centered on themes of liberation, justice and redemption arrives in April.
Our diverse community of Jewish students observe and celebrate this holiday in different ways. The two most popular aspects are participating in festive gatherings called a Seder, and refraining during the holiday from eating foods that contain “chametz”. Chametz includes leavened bread, or anything else made with wheat, barley, oats, spelt, or rye. Some traditions also place legumes in the list of prohibited Passover foods. Some students will spend the holiday on campus, with minimal change to their daily routine. For more traditionally-observant students, their day-to-day lifestyle is fundamentally altered for the duration of the holiday. Our purpose is to be respectful and inclusive of the variety of Jewish religious and spiritual practices during this important holiday.
Passover begins with a Seder on Monday, April 22 in the evening and ends at nightfall on Tuesday, April 30.
The essential breakdown of the Passover week is as follows:
- First Days of Passover: Monday night, April 22, through Wednesday night, April 24
- Intermediate Days of Passover: Thursday, April 25 through Sunday, April 28
- Last Days of Passover: Sunday night, April 28, through nightfall Tuesday, April 30
Many students, staff and faculty within Barnard celebrate Passover. Accordingly, below you will find relevant information and opportunities to participate.
This year, when so many of us are experiencing difficult times, we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to celebrate and recognize the richness of our community’s religious traditions together.
For Administration and Faculty:
- Many observant Jewish students are prohibited from attending class or doing coursework during the first two and last two days of Passover; some religious traditions also preclude using electronics – phones, transportation and computers – during these days. Barnard will make religious accommodations for students.
- If faculty need guidance about how best to accommodate students or have questions about any students in their classes, they may reach out to the student’s Class Dean.
- For specific inquiries about the Jewish holidays, please reach out to our Campus Rabbi, Yonah Hain (rabbi@columbia.edu).
For Students
- Students seeking religious accommodations for their observation of the holiday should contact their professors as soon as possible.
- Students are responsible to make up their work and be prepared for the next session.
- If students encounter any difficulties in completing work for their classes, they should contact their Class Dean for support and guidance.
Passover Seders and other Opportunities
Barnard's Office of DEI and the Student Government Association invite you to join us for the 2nd annual Black Liberation Seder: A Dialogue About Solidarity And Justice.
The Black Liberation Seder is a pre-Passover Seder exploring the story of Exodus through Black American art, storytelling and activism. Sometimes known as a "Freedom Seder," the first Black Liberation Seder occurred after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. when Black and Jewish communities found solidarity through shared histories of oppression. Since then, Black Liberation Seders have become a hallmark of Black American Jewish culture. Join us as we center the experiences of and pay homage to Black and Jewish history and tradition.
This is an evening that will incorporate some rituals from the Passover tradition into a dialogue about building solidarity within and across communities, working through tensions, and standing together against white supremacy. All are welcome to join us for this community meal and rich discussion led by Rabbi Heather Miller.
Thursday, April 18, 5:30-7 PM in MLC LL017.
Register here. Kosher food will be served.
Jewish life at Barnard/Columbia offers many ways to celebrate the holiday. The festive meals, prayer services, community service opportunities, and other holiday-themed experiences are open to all students. Many of these offerings are housed in the Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life (W. 115th between Broadway and Riverside).
To register for a Passover Seder, or to host your own Seder in your own way with all of the necessary materials provided for you, please see here.
Dining
Barnard Kosher at Hewitt Dining will offer nutritious, made-in-house Kosher for Passover options, whether to-go or in-person. Kosher-for-Passover food in the Kosher Servery will be available during the Intermediate Days of the holiday. For the first days of Passover, during Shabbat, and the last days of Passover, meals are available with advance registration. There will be two in-person lunches on April 27 and April 30. Registration is required to attend.
To register for Kosher-for-Passover meals when the servery is closed or the in-person lunches, complete this form.
We wish all who are observing a chag sameach, a happy Passover!
You can email Deanofthecollege@barnard.edu for further questions.
Sincerely,
Leslie Grinage
Vice President for Campus Life and Student Experience and Dean of the College
Jennifer Rosales
Vice President for Inclusion and Engaged Learning, and Chief Diversity Officer