Inter-community Seder
Over one hundred future leaders from a broad cross-section of faith, ethnic and political communities came together at a unique Passover dinner in Sydney on Wednesday night.
Organised by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, the objective was to foster understanding and bridge-building, and judging by the fact that guests stayed to mingle for an hour after the proceedings were over, it certainly seemed to achieve that goal.
Leah Briers, Guy Gilead, Paulette Lo and Jasbinder Minhas Photo: Giselle Haber
The event followed in the wake of numerous outreach Passover dinners held by the Board of Deputies, including with the interfaith, education, trade union, NGO and academic sectors.
Bruce Notley-Smith MP, representing Minister for Citizenship and Communities Victor Dominello MP, gave the opening address.
Groups represented included the Chinese Australian Forum, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, the Sikh Council of Australia, the Buddhist Council of NSW, the Australian Baha’i Community, the Hindu Council of Australia, the Baha’i community, the Australian Hellenic Council (NSW), the Council of Indian Australians, the Muslim Women’s Association, NSW Young Liberals, NSW Young Labor, the Youth Action Policy Association, the Sydney Alliance, Young UN Women, the Australian National Committee for UN Women, the Council of International Students Australia, various university students’ associations, NSW Young Lawyers and councillors from Woollahra, Willoughby, Warringah, Hunters Hill, Camden and Wollondilly Shire councils.
“The event built on the vital bridge-building work which the Board of Deputies does on behalf of the community,” chief executive officer Vic Alhadeff said. “Passover is the festival of freedom, and it was a rousing celebration of the freedom which we enjoy as Australians who respect diversity and the dignity of difference.”
The event was led by Board education officer Sarah Greenbaum and held at the University of NSW.
When did the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies decide to “follow their own counsels and the fancies of their evil heart” (Jere. 7:24) and reject the Torah and the Mitzvotim concerning Pesach? How poor is their learning? Have they not read or been taught Shemos (Ex.) 12:43-48 “This is the decree of the pesach offering – no alienated person (a non-Jew or a Jew who has apostasized) may eat it; … a (non-Jewish) hired labourer may not eat it; … no uncircumcised male may eat it” and “no ritually impure person may eat it” (Paschim 66b).
If the NSW JBofD have decided to take Judaism down this path of total rejection and disrespect of the Torah in the hope of gaining some sort of accolades from the non-Jews, and the goyim pagans, then they should all be sacked and seen as the apostates they are. Sure, throw a party for non-Jews, and be friendly toward them, but don’t dare call it “Pesach”, or even a “Pesach dinner” and don’t go near the sacred Seder when doing so.